As Charles Darwin described in his study about the existence and nature of emotions as expressed both by humans and animals, emotions are a natural part of the living creatures. Although there might be some slight differences between emotions of animals and humans, yet, they are quite similar. Both of these creatures have distinguished emotional patterns like anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and even surprise. With that, it is not far from reality that animals when they become parents, also become loving towards their babies. They express similar emotions and at the same time do similar things as the humans do to give whatever their babies need. This is also one way to show that they care for their young.

Here are some of the most touching photos of newborn animals in the wild which clearly express that animals, too, can show how tender and caring they are as mothers and fathers to their babies. Let these photos inspire you and show you how precious life is.

1. Mother monkey gets Caesarian

Painful as it sounds, but yes, the mother monkey just got her Caesarian to give birth to her baby monkey. This is quite a maternal sacrifice!

2. The Canada goslings follow their mama goose

Really cute! These goslings are following their mother goose in search for food. While doing so, they swim together in line (to avoid being lost).

3. The Capybara swims with her newborn

One of the cutest feature of a Capybara is that they really are persistent in terms of teaching some values to their young. You can see this in this picture of these baby Capybaras learning to swim together with their mom.

4. Mother Elephant milks her newborn calf

This is quite a photo! Mother elephant in the Safari just gave her milk to her baby.

5. Baby Calf follows Mama Hippo

Obedience is one of the keys to life’s success. In order for this baby hippo to learn the basics of life, he needs to obey what his mom asks him to do. As seen in this photo, this baby follows wherever his mom will go.

6. Lioness cares for her one-day old cub

They may be the fiercest creature in the jungle, but to their cubs, they are the most loving and caring creatures.

7. Lioness carries her newborn cub

Just like the human moms, this lioness carefully brings her cub to the distinct places in the jungle. It’s somehow scary to look at, but that’s how they normally carry their babies – by mouth!

8. Mama Hippo takes a bath with her baby calf

Really cute! Life might bring some difficulties, but as long as their is a cool bath, it’s okay. This mama hippo just gave herself a bath together with her baby.

9. Baby crocodile just hatched from egg

Life is harsh. Well, it is. Just like this baby crocodile, when it was hatched, his mom’s presence is absent. Although life sucks, still life should go on and be lived.

10. Wild Mynah bird feeds her young

Parents know perfectly what their children need. Giving it what it needs, is what the Mynah bird did to her newborn chick.

11. Newly-hatched chick just got out of its egg

Just like the crocodile, this chick just got out of the egg without the presence of her mother hen.

12. Mama Hippo cares for her calf

Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. This is how mother love works. Mama hippo just gave her calf those sweet and loving kisses.

13. Sea Lion kisses her day-old pup

This is exactly how a mother shows affection to their children. Even animals do it!

14. Wild sow (female boar) milks her babies

Babies need the mother’s milk. In the first months they are entirely dependent to them.

15. Papa Lion calms cub

Even father lions can express love to their cubs.

16. Mama Koala hugs her joey

Hugs can calm any creature. This joey just got it from her loving mom.

17. Cheetah protects her cubs

The jungle life can be tough. But with the presence of their mom, nothing should be feared about it!

18. Mother Cheetah is having fun with her cub

Life can be tough, but just laugh at it, because life can also be very enjoyable!

19. Tigress shows comfort to her young cub

As problems arose, a simple, sincere, warm hug is enough to conquer life’s difficulties.

20. Mother Tigress bathes her baby

See how the mother tigress bathes her baby! It’s adorable!

21. Tigress shows love to her cub

Nothing beats with a mother’s love to her baby. Really.

22. Mama Sloth climbs trees carefully as she carries her baby

Though any mom can be single when she carries a baby, life shouldn’t be enjoyed less because of that. We all still have to fight and survive!

23. Mother sea otter relaxes in water as she bathes with her pup

Yes, these mother-daughter sea otters just spend time relaxing in the cool waters.

24. Father Lion plays with his cub

During playtime, this father lion cuddles and plays with his cub (just like how human daddies do with their young kids!)

25. Giraffe kisses her calf

Just like the other animals as well as humans, the mother giraffe kisses her calf!

26. Mama Panda plays around with her cubs

This one is one of the most hilarious and the cutest photos! This mother panda in China (Juxiao) plays with her baby cubs.

27. Mother Thai Panda walks on the rope carrying her cub

What a complete flexibility!

28. Mother Opossum carries her joeys on her back searching for food

Mothers can be tough just for their babies. Just take a look at how strong her back is to carry her babies.

29. Kangaroo hugs her joey so tightly

Kangaroos can be one of the most adorable animals in the jungle. But they can be the sweetest, too!

30. Mother Koala plays with her baby

Mother animals can be playful with their babies, too!

See how simple and tranquil life is especially if you’re with your parents or your kids. So, treasure them. Cherish your simple life amid the complexity of life. In general, I hope these photos remind you of how life is precious!

Featured photo credit: Family of Koala Picture via sexyli.com

We live in a world that constantly tells us what to do, how to act, what to be. Knowing how to be true to yourself and live the life you want can be a challenge.

When someone asks how we are, we assume that the person does not mean the question sincerely, for it would lead to an in depth conversation. So telling them that you are good or fine, even if you’re not, is the usual answer.

In an ideal world, we would stop and truly listen. We wouldn’t be afraid to be ourselves. Instead, when we answer about how we are doing, our mask, the persona we show the world, tightens. Sometimes even more so than it might have been before. Eventually, it becomes hard to take off, even when you’re alone.

Imagine a world where we asked how someone was doing and they really told us. Imagine a world where there were no masks, only transparency when we talked to one another.

If you want to live in a world that celebrates who you are, mistakes and all, take off the mask. It doesn’t mean you have to be positive or fine all the time.

According to a Danish psychologist, Svend Brinkman, we expect each other to be happy and fine every second, and we expect it of ourselves. And that “has a dark side.”^[1] Positive psychology can have its perks but not at the expense at hiding how you truly feel in order to remain seemingly positive to others.

No one can feel positive all the time and yet, that is what our culture teaches us to embrace. We have to unlearn this. That said, telling others you are ‘“fine”’ all the time is actually detrimental to your wellbeing, because it stops you from being assertive, from being authentic or your truest self.

When you acknowledge a feeling, it leads you to the problem that’s causing that feeling; and once you identify the problem, you can find a solution to it. When you hide that feeling, you stuff it way down so no one can help you.You can’t even help yourself.

Feelings are there for one reason: to be felt. That doesn’t mean you have to act on that feeling. It just means that you start the process of problem solving so you can live the life you want.

1. Embrace Your Vulnerability

When you are your true self, you can better self-advocate or stand up for what you need. Your self-expression matters, and you should value your voice. It’s okay to need things, it’s okay to speak up, and it’s okay not to be okay.

Telling someone you are simply “fine” when you are not, does your story and your journey a great disservice. Being true to yourself entails embracing all aspects of your existence.

When you bring your whole self to the table, there is nothing that you can’t beat. Here’re 7 benefits of being vulnerable you should learn.

Can you take off the mask? This is the toughest thing anyone can do. We have learned to wait until we are safe before we start to be authentic.

In relationships especially, this can be hard. Some people avoid vulnerability at any cost. And in our relationship with ourselves, we can look in the mirror and immediately put on the mask.

It all starts with your story. You have been on your own unique journey. That journey has led you here, to the person you are today. You have to be unafraid, and embrace all aspects of that journey.

You should seek to thrive, not just survive. That means you do not have to compete or compare yourself with anyone.

Authenticity means you are enough. It’s enough to be who you are to get what you want.

What if for the first time ever, you were real? What if you said what you wanted to say, did what you wanted to do, and didn’t apologize for it?

You were assertive, forthcoming in your opinions or actions to stand for what is right for you, (rather than being passive or aggressive) in doing so. You didn’t let things get to you. You knew you had something special to offer.

That’s where we all should be.

So, answer me this:

How are you, really?

And know that no matter the answer, you should still be accepted.

Bravery is in the understanding that you still may not be accepted for your truth.

Bravery is knowing you matter even when others say that you do not.

Bravery is believing in yourself when all evidence counters doing so (i.e. past failures or losses)

Bravery is in being vulnerable while knowing vulnerability is a sign of strength.

It’s taking control.

2. Choose Your Attitude in Adversity

You can take control of your destiny and live the life you want by being true to yourself. You can start anytime. You can start today.

You can start with one day at a time, just facing what happens that day. Most of us get overwhelmed when faced with the prospect of a big change. Even if the only thing we change is our attitude.

In one instant, you can become a different person with a change of attitude. When you take control of your attitude, you become able to better understand what is around you. This allows you to move forward.

Originally, you may have had a life plan. It could have started when you were little; you were hoping to become a mermaid, doctor, astronaut or all three when you grew up. You were hoping to be someone. You were hoping to be remembered.

You can still dream those dreams, but eventually reality sets in. Obstacles and struggles arise. You set on a different path when the last one didn’t work out. You think of all the “shoulds” in your life in living the life you want. You should be doing this…should be doing that…

Clayton Barbeau, psychologist, coined the term “shoulding yourself.’^[2] When we are set on one path and find ourselves doing something different. It becomes all the things you should be doing rather than seeing the opportunities right in front of you.

But in all this disarray, did you lose sight of the real you?

It may be in our perceived failures and blunders that we lose sight of who we are, because we try to maintain position and status.

In being who we really are and achieving what we really want, we need to be resilient: How to Build Resilience to Face What Life Throws at You

It means that we do not see all possibilities of what might happen, but must trust ourselves to begin again, and continue to build the life we want. In the face of adversity, you must choose your attitude.

Can attitude overcome adversity? It certainly helps. While seeking to be true to yourself and live the life you want, you will have to face a fact:

Change will happen.

Whether that change is good or bad is unique to each person and their perspective.

You might have to start over, once, twice, a few times. It doesn’t mean that everything will be okay, but that you will be okay. What remains or should remain is the true you. When you’ve lost sight of that, you’ve lost sight of everything.

And then, you rebuild. Moment after moment, day after day. We all have a choice, and in this moment, that matters.

You can choose to have a positive attitude, seeing the silver lining in each situation and, where there is none, the potential for one. Maybe that silver lining is you and what you will do with the situation. How will you use it for something good?

That’s how you can tap into yourself and your power. Sometimes it happens by accident, sometimes on purpose. It can happen when we aren’t even looking for it, or it can be your only focus. Everyone gets there differently.

You can rise, or you can remain. Your choice.

When the worst happens, you can rely on your authenticity to pull you through. That’s because Self Advocacy, speaking up to let others know what you need, is part of finding the real you.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Or sometimes, helping others can help us deal with the pain of a hurtful situation. You decide how you’re going to help others, and suddenly, you become your best self.

3. Do What Makes You Happy When No One’s Looking

Being the best version of you has nothing to do with your success or your status. It has everything to do with your Character, what you do when no one’s looking.

In order to create the life you want, you have to be the person you want to be. Faking it till you make it is just a way to white knuckle it through your journey. You have the fire inside of you to make things right, to put the pieces together, to live authentically. And Character is how you get there.

If you fall down and you help another up while you’re down there, it’s like you rise twice.

Along with attitude, your character is about the choices you make rather than what happens to you.

Yes, it’s about doing the right thing even when obstacles seem insurmountable.  It’s about using that mountain you’ve been given to show others it can be moved.  It’s about being unapologetically you, taking control, choosing your attitude in adversity and being the best version of you to create the life you want.

How do you know what you really want? Is it truly status or success?

Unfortunately, these things do not always bring happiness. And aspects of our image or “performance driven existence” may not achieve satisfaction. Materialism is part of our refusal to accept ourselves as enough. All the things we use to repress our true selves are about being enough.

“Enoughness” is what we truly seek, but ego gets in the way.

Ego is the perception of self as outer worth. It’s not REAL self worth.

Ego represses our true self with a new self— the self of chasing ‘“Am I ever enough?”’ questions. And instead of filling our true selves with self-love and acceptance, when we “should ourselves” and chase “enoughness,” we feed the ego or our image.

It’s important to realize YOU ARE ENOUGH, without all the material trappings.

Stanford psychologist Meagan O’Reilly describes the damage of not thinking we are enough. One of her tactics for combating this is to complete the sentence,^[3]

“If I believed I were already enough, I’d ____”

What would you do if you felt you were enough?

By believing you are enough, you can live the life you want.

So many fake it to try to get there, and they end up losing themselves when they lose more and more touch with their Authenticity.

Final Thoughts

By being yourself, you are being brave. By acknowledging all you can be, you tell the universe that you can until you believe it too. The steps are easy, and you are worth it. All of it is about the purpose you are leading and the passion that is your fuel.

Being true to yourself is all about mastering how to live life authentically rather than faking or forcing it. Having the life you want (and deserve) is about being trusting in yourself and the purpose you are living for. Both need passion behind it, fueling it each second, or you will experience burn out.

When you are authentic, you can call the road you walk your own. When you live your life for you and not just the results of all your actions (faking it till you make it), you can let go of what you don’t need. This clarifies and pushes purpose to you, living for something that is greater than you.

You will find that making decisions based on what will actually achieve your goals, will help you attain the life you want, and your success with each step, will allow you to enjoy the process. Good luck!

More About Living Your True Self

• Do You Want to Know the Secret to Living a Fulfilling Life?
• How To Be True To You When Life Pulls You Off Track
• How to Find the Purpose of Life and Start Living a Fulfilling Life
• How to Get Motivated and Be Happy Every Day When You Wake Up

Featured photo credit: Ariana Prestes via unsplash.com