A short while later I was browsing my email, clicked on my Google alert for insomnia, and found this picture – I mean, really, what are the odds?

Obviously, I am meant to explore why cats don’t have insomnia, and in so doing I can hopefully derive some lessons for those of us who walk on two legs instead of four.

Hmmm, where to start? Perhaps best to make a list. What do cats do, how do they live, what contributes to their ability to sleep with such perfection?

Of course, much of it is genetic – they are just born that way. But is it really nature, or nurture? Just for fun, let’s take the point of view that, while sleeping may come naturally to them, they also learn some practices that contribute to their being good sleepers. Create sort of a primer on good sleep practices, as taught by a cat. Drawing on my extensive relationship with them, and my good fortune of spending years with a wise Feline Zen Master who taught me to meditate, I’ll do my best to pass on their innate wisdom.

First, cats don’t worry obsessively. In fact, it may be safe to say they don’t worry much at all, unless their food bowl is empty too long. If that is the case, they take action and do something about it, usually rather loudly, rather than sitting around getting anxious and keeping their worries to themselves.

Cats have a curious, healthy outlook about life. Have you ever seen a bored cat? They get pleasure from a piece of string, or a crumpled piece or paper, or an old teabag. They know how to examine the innate nature of objects, how to see the beauty in everything.

Cats meditate, often. Eckhart Tolle said, “I have lived with several Zen masters – all of them cats.” If you want to learn to meditate, pay attention to cats. They are masters of sitting. If you sit with them, you may be able to absorb some of their wisdom. I would never have become the meditator I am today had I not been so fortunate to learn at the paws of such a wise being, as I wrote about in Choosing to Be.

Cats get plenty of exercise. They prefer chasing live beings, such as mice, crickets, lizards, etc. – but they will chase and attack your bunny slippered feet if that’s all they can get. Climbing, chasing their tail, jumping, stalking, leaping – all part of their extensive and varied exercise regime.

Cats drink plenty of water. Some like it in a bowl, but many prefer running water, fresh from the tap or hose. Some like to lap up the bathwater as you sit in the tub. They are diligent about staying hydrated.

Cats take catnaps. Really, how do you think catnaps got their name? Cats know the  restorative power of a few winks, and will often find a quiet spot to curl up and snooze, often putting a paw over their eyes like nature’s sleep mask to block out the light.

Cats stretch and do yoga frequently. They know the value of stretching,and often find innovative ways to luxuriate in slow and restorative movements.

Cats love to get outside and lie in the sunlight. If they can’t get outside, they find a ray of sunlight inside. They know how important it is to get natural light in their eyes to promote the production of melatonin.

Cats don’t drink coffee. In fact it is probably safe to say that they don’t ingest caffeine in any form. They know that caffeine can keep them awake.

Cats don’t smoke. They know that nicotine is a stimulant that could keep them from getting good sleep. If they are around a human who is smoking, they will often wrinkle their nose, expressing their disapproval before walking haughtily out of the room.

Cats don’t drink alcohol. They are aware that alcohol has a dehydrating effect and could wake them from their slumbers when it wears off.

Cats don’t eat spicy or heavy foods before bedtime. In fact they don’t eat spicy foods at all. And if they do eat a heavy meal, they spend a great amount of time washing up afterwards. This helps them work off the meal.

Cats don’t watch television, or work on computers, or talk incessantly on cell phones. In fact they are not big on electronics or Wi-Fi in any form. All that electromagnetic radiation makes their fur stand on end and gives them a headache.

Cats have a winding down ritual before bedtime. They spend time arranging the pillows, kneading the blankets, and circling around several times to find the most perfect sleeping position.

Cats use natural herbs to promote their health and well being. Eschewing the use of pharmaceutical drugs, cats prefer catnip, delighting in its intoxicating effects, followed by healthy, natural and very deep sleep.

Cats find secluded, quiet places to sleep. Sanctuaries are important, and no one knows this better than a cat. They are always on the lookout for a spot just crying out to be slept in.

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You too can master the Art of Sleeping. Being a Confident Sleeper means you have the knowledge, understanding, and tools to get the sleep you need, no matter what the circumstances. To learn more, please click here.

I’ve known for some time that stress, worry, and anxiety play a major part in our ability to get the rest we need. In fact, many of the sleep experts I’ve talked with say that these three “devils” are the biggest culprits behind insomnia.

My own experience has shown me that the way I think about sleep is as important as anything else I do. That’s why I decided to learn more about sleep and insomnia, so I could develop strategies for getting better sleep – and along the way, I gained competence. I found tools to help me feel that I was not a helpless victim of that dreaded “insomnia.”

What happens when we are afraid? Our stress hormones keep pumping, and cortisol streams through our bodies and minds, damaging our ability to calm down and think clearly. (See my post on “Are you a Salmon, Hamster or Cat” to explore this process more fully.)

I have been focusing on stress, worry and anxiety as the culprits. Then this morning I got an email about FEAR, and that’s when my aha happened. Of course – fear is the source of our stress, worry, anxiety. Plain old FEAR.

What happens with fear? Statistics show that many people have a fear of speaking in public. They feel like they are going to have a heart attack. They get the shakes. They throw up. They sweat. They can’t think. They can’t even remember their name, much less what they were going to speak about.

Now let’s look at sleep. If you have a fear of not sleeping, what happens? You begin to worry and feel anxious as night falls. Will this be another bad night? You approach your bed with trepidation. You anxiously lay your head down on the pillow. Oh no, not another bad night, you think to yourself. What happens? You got it, another bad night.

How do people overcome their fear of public speaking? They learn tricks, they learn techniques, they get support. Same applies to sleeping. Bet you know more about how to write a good speech, or how to paint a room, or how to plant a garden than you know about how sleep works.  Am I right?

So – let’s begin stripping away the mystery of sleep. Let’s pull back the curtain on the “scary monster” of insomnia. We are afraid of what we don’t understand, what we feel is beyond our control. Easy enough to solve, when you think about it. As Winnie the Pooh (one of my favorite philosophers) says: “Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.”

Here’s the key: Stop looking for a quick fix for something you don’t understand. Knowledge comes first, then understanding. After that, you will see clearly that you have been in charge all along.

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You too can master the Art of Sleeping. Being a Confident Sleeper means you have the knowledge, understanding, and tools to get the sleep you need, no matter what the circumstances. To learn more, please click here.