Mindfulness for Relaxation
Sep 22nd, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
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I remember years ago, a lady came to take lessons with me. She had traveled all the way from Florida to learn the Art of Horsemanship. She had all the right clothes and a great deal of enthusiasm. However, on her first day she became disappointed with all the details she would have to learn to stay safe around horses. And on top of that, she also found out that she would have to learn how to manage a horse’s behavior.
The next day she found even more disturbing because instead of something to do in her lesson, I told her to enjoy the moment and relax while keeping the horse way from her as she was sitting in a chair reading a book.
Initially she said that all she wanted was for the horse to relax, however she discovered that it took a lot of leadership, concentration, attentiveness, focus and management in order to be around a horse. These were the same things that she did at work all day and exactly what she was trying to avoid. She wanted a horse so she could forget about the details and just fall into a blissful state of being in his presence. I told her she was on the right track but that she must take time to learn how to create this type of connection before she could experience it.
So I told the lady not to worry; it was only her approach that was causing her stress. By taking a different approach, I promised her she would find the bliss she was looking for with horses and in her business. I was able to show her how to juggle all the balls that life would throw her way whilst still being able to relax in the moment. Not because she could give up the need to pay attention, manage, plan ahead and all the other things she had to do to perform her job but by learning how to relax.
After a week of my guidance, I was able to give her the ability to have the discernment she needed to lead a horse in the moment and to keep the connection. She learned how to focus on all the details necessary to make a great connection with a horse and be able to create the trust, respect and bond that she desired to share. She also enjoyed the ups and downs and learned that bliss was more rewarding than she originally hoped for. She found this through my guidance using the Waterhole Rituals in the first step sharing territory and learning the art of meditation with horses.
This is why I created the Waterhole Reflections – Meditations with Horses in Nature DVD. It provides the preparation needed to be in the right state of mindfulness for learning the lessons that horses bring to us. It also provides a platform for us to look into the everyday world of horses with a better awareness of the rich herd culture of horses that we need to learn in order to make better connections with them. In the practice of the Waterhole Rituals, one learns how to first develop the bond and then the trust and from there how to lead from this bonded trust.
Dancing in relaxation and bliss is an art that takes time but no effort. In reality it is not the details that stress us out, it is having to take care of the problems that occur from not paying attention to the details in the first place or making a misjudgment. It is all in the approach not in fixing the problem. I asked her to look at the times she had felt stressed and she noticed that the stress was caused by an error in judgment. If she had made the right choice in the first place, stress would not be a factor. You can avoid making mistakes by being able to forecast events and know how to take care of them. This is all you need to be able to do. Forecasting does not create stress.
Imagine, if you ran through all the problems that could happen and figured out a solution for each one, then you would become a nervous wreck like this lady was. All you need is awareness in the moment and to remain in a state of mindfulness. By being aware, the lessons in life become pleasurable and adventuresome. Leadership is a natural attribute when the student has this mindset. It is taking the wrong approach or none at all that causes us all the stress and burden. A bird does not have a nervous breakdown because he needs to be mindful while playing to be on his guard to stay safe from predators and keep within his pecking order. The leadership required of us while being around horses can be a lot of work but only if you think of it that way as this lady did.
Again, I told her not to worry and that horses would teach her how to approach her life so that all the things that were stressing her out and causing her to work harder to maintain her job would be an easy fix. Not an instant fix for sure but an easy one. It is all about the ease of getting what you want.
One of the biggest ingredients is to study the nature of horses and learn how to bond with them in a way that causes respect, loyalty and ends with the ability to dance in a beautiful partnership with them. The best way for all of this to happen is found in preparation, study and meditation with horses to gain the mindfulness and awareness of a lead horse.
The traditional way of learning the practice of meditation is with a guide or teacher but in our modern society, we now have so many new ways of learning through blogs, connections with others, and listening to our own instincts that learning is an adventure in itself. In primitive cultures the way of learning was done though storytelling and as a teacher, I have found that storytelling is my greatest tool for empowering people. So for today comments, I would like to hear from you a story of empowerment that could be a guide for others or a time when you just meditated with you horse and it brought magic to the connection you were sharing together.
Enjoy your week
Carolyn
No related posts.
this is what is needed for being able to ride your horse at liberty
Dear Carolyn;
Again I love your blog and all the people who write in to tell of their experiences. I was totally lost until I found your blog. I was trying other methods of training online for over a month when I ran across yours about 3 weeks ago now. When I decided to give up all the other methods all together and just follow yours, Key Largo changed so drastically.
For example, last week I was just sitting there in my chair and just watching her eat. I decided to move to the round pen which is attached to the barn and her paddock. She decided she was going to come and just be a pest and try to knock me out of my chair so I pushed her away and she decided she was going to do the snakehead dance and kick up her heels so I ran her out of the round pen.
She walked around for a minute then decided I couldn’t send her out and she was coming back in at a full gallop whether I liked it or not. So I stood up and she thought she was leaving of her own accord and I threw up my arms at her and told her to go ahead and go and returned to my chair. Well this went on and on for a good part of an hour where she would just keep coming in and try to leave of her own accord and I let her know I wanted her gone.
She started to walk in and come over to me so I would walk around with her until she would shake her head and run out, and I would chase after her and return to my chair. That only happened a few times, then she decided she wasn’t leaving, she wanted to stay with me so I pet her neck and sat back in my chair.
The most awesome thing happened that day. She decided she didn’t want me to ever leave. Now she winnies and begs me to come back when I leave and she runs to greet me when I come. She won’t even eat her hay unless I am sitting right next to her while she is eating it. (Of course, she eats it if I am not there).
Yesterday I was out raking my yard and I could see her and she kept running back and forth and begging me to come over. If I went out of her sight she would call to me. I was afraid to bring her out with me because she spooks at everything and I was afraid she would try to run and get hurt.
Well, I did bring her out but on a lead and just walked around with her. She did spook and she got away from me but as soon as I said “HALT! STAY!” She did just that and she waited for me to come get her. It was so awesome!
Today, when she layed down by me, I went over and sat on her and she let me sit on her back. I had no clue we would progress together so quickly.
Now I feel so guilty when I have to leave her, because it upsets her so bad. She just stands there in a corner and pouts until I come back. What can I do to stop her from being so sad when I am gone?
I know I have spoiled her and I spend every minute I can with her. She is so happy when I am with her and so content. I don’t want her to be sad.
Hi Carolyn,
I came upon your website searching for mindfulness for horses. I recently acquired my first horse at the age of 56 and I just love her. I am a breast cancer patient, Lilly is very therapeutic for me. I am a counselor and work in mental health, I do DBT with my clients and thought if it worked with people why not Lilly. Working with my horse is totally different than doing mindfulness with people but the same concept. I was excited to come upon your website and read about your dvds. I look forward to reading through your material. Mindfulness is a big part of my life; it keeps me centered in all aspects of my life.
Thanks so much
Kathy Rice
Leslie – My name is Mary. I just loved to hear about your mini! How incredible that she is the lead mare and how I would love seeing her interacting with the larger horses. Your story of how she came to be with you when you fell is so touching. Horses, as you know, as very sensitive to our emotions. And as she is the lead mare her job is to be especially aware of what’s going on in her herd. I imagine if your other horses had been able to they might all have come to be with you! There are many stories of dogs and cats and other animals doing similar and what seem to be miraculous things for their humans. There is a wealth of possibility for interspecies communication. And I believe especially with horses. I know people who would probably say the same thing about their dogs!
Horses are especially attuned to human emotion and this is different than other animals because horses are prey animals and although not longer part of a wild herd, they still are vigilant and sensitive to everything, as they would have to be in the herd in order to survive. I’m sure you know all this!
You are blessed to have horses in your life, living with you, there for you. I suffer from clinical depression and I know that if I could just get up in the morning and walk out to be with my horses, my life would be deeply enriched and easier in many ways. Some days it is hard to have a 40 minute drive to be with Lady and Tess (the mini).
I feel exposed having said all this but it just came up and I am feeling so strongly about it at the moment that I guess I will let these words stay in my post to you.
You are absolutely right about your sense of what Carolyn is saying. She wants us, as we share territory, to be totally mindful of where we are, of every detail. To open to the magic of life. And she speaks of how this is part of being a leader and we will carry this skill into all area of our lives. Carolyn is a great teacher and a remarkable woman. We all are blessed to have her in our lives.
Wishing you all the best in your journey through the Water Rituals. Let us hear about it! We will all learn more. Mary
How I am enjoying everyone’s stories! Thank-you for sharing your special moments.
To Lady’s “owner”… I have also experienced moments where horses nearby received energy healing. I loved the part where you kneel down before lady. My lead mare is a mini. She works very hard and does a beautiful job with our herd of 8. I have so much respect for her managing all these big horses. I also kneel before her and I scratch her wither and she grooms my unruly hair and very gently scratches my shoulder.
Last winter I took a bad fall and hurt my back. The mini Mare appeared instantly from around the barn (she is loose on the property). She stayed by my side as I laid there sobbing. She did not leave until I was able to get up and show her I was OK.
What is amazing to me is how all the horses and I are connected even when we are through out the property. I know that a big part of this is being mindful and aware in the moment. When I am doing my chores I use the time as a mindful exercise to stay in the moment and I always feel like I am very close and in tune with every little thing going on around me.
My comment for everyone is that I think once you experience the mindful meditations in quiet solitude with the horses I believe you can carry that through into your daily activity. I believe this is what Carolyn is teaching but I am just now learning Carolyn’s Waterhole rituals and reading her lovely book so I am just a beginner and don’t want to misinterpret!
Thanks Again Everyone,
Leslie
Carolyn, thanks for your help. I think my question really was that I need to find a better balance between relaxation and energy. My mare is very relaxed and I can happily be with her, touching her all over, in her mouth, everywhere, enjoying meditating with her in the field, etc. I do lots of this and it’s very blissful. But then I worry because I found that it was much harder to tap into her exuberant energy and was I missing out? I find that more difficult because we are a bit similar, my mare and I, we both enjoy chilling out. In fact I’m hopeless at it but she has taught me to do it around her! What a gift!
But then when I try to play with her she often just fall asleep! She can be really stressy so I’m pleased that I think I’ve helped her relax and trust me but I’d like a bit more enthusiasm at times too!
My last call with CR, she suggested that I work with the horses as a herd, and in the 40 acre pasture, instead of the arena. I think I finally am starting to understand why.
Honestly, I started this project because my horses had rid themselves of three very expensive fly masks, somewhere out in the middle of 40 acres of pasture, wooded trails, and creek crossings. I know my horses have somewhat of a schedule. They come in the same time every night for water. The graze the same places, the same time of day, and pretty much have their day planned. If I was going to find those fly masks, I was going to have to spend the day with the herd. I broke it up into three time sections, morning, afternoon, and dusk. They all lasted about 4 hours. It gives you time to “ponder”, as they say here in Kansas.
I brought my reed, may camera, and stashed some carrots up the sleeve of my sweatshirt that first morning. I walked up to where I knew they would be napping, next to the next door stallion. I sat down on my log and waited until Eclipse determined it was time to move. All of our heads came up at the same time. I followed along, looking for masks and picking wildflowers. Once in a while, Bit would bob her nose at Hawk and move him along if he hadn’t paid attention when Eclipse said move your feet. Eclipse would pin her ears at him, and move him out of the way if he got too close to her bubble. Then both mares would spend that extra effort to walk around him, and he would eat in peace. It all flowed and there was a purpose for every ritual. I realized that when I was in the arena with Eclipse, my rituals had no purpose, other than to teach me how to do them. (I found no masks that day)
The next evening, I headed out around 4 p.m. and joined the horses by the next door stallion. I checked for boo boos, gave treats, and I headed in for the night. Eclipse decided to join me, then Hawk and Bit. All three horses companion walked with me back towards the house, about 4 acres away. I decided to head past the house and they followed along. When I got to other side of the house, I stopped by some very nice grass, and “we” grazed. Hawk wanted a hedge apple. I know because he looked me in the eye, looked up at the hedge apple hanging in the tree, and then looked back at me. Arabians. I found 3, and sent two rolling towards Bit and Eclipse. They were delighted. I said, “hey, I know where there are a lot more!” I took off running and realized that all three horses were running with me. They were kicking, bucking, snaky necking and we took off to the back pasture. We spent a good hour and 1/2 shopping for hedge apples. Hawk waiting right next to me and pointing them out, and the mares waiting for me to roll them another treat. We ran, played, did the rituals and I felt like a horse for the very first time. One mask found today.
Today I headed out around 11, joining the horses by the stallion. Bit was off on her front right so I ran back down the road to bring back a pick, epsom salts, a pan and some warm water. While Bit soaked, I did reiki and massage. Hawk looked longingly at the stallions girl friend, and Eclipse lusted after the stallion. Very soap opera in the back pasture these days. Finally, Eclipse wondered off to graze, but Hawk was too smitten to notice. He doesn’t pay attention like he should. Bit grew a little nervous that the lead mare had vanished around the other side of a tree, so we ended her spa day, and followed behind. Hawk finally noticed and came bolting towards us like a kid lost in the mall. I didn’t want to lead, because I wanted to know where they went so I could find those masks. Eclipse suddenly tucked into a place that I had forgotten was even there. A great little wooded trail, water hole, and then the trees just canopied over the top of this trail. They stopped at the water, and I jumped the creek and headed up the trail. I looked behind me and Hawk was cantering up behind me, followed by Eclipse and Bit. Two masks found. For the next5 hours we adventured, shopped for hedge apples, grazed, did rituals, looked at cows and watched Hawk chase the border collie. It was…intimate. The horses touched me, leaned gently into me, Bit led me from behind with her little head bob!!!!
That’s when I thought about HOW CR got the invitation to ride from the lead mare of the wild herd. She spent 3 summers, all day with those horses. Learned to speak horse, and she moved up in the herd, just like another horse. And I’m going to get there in 8 weeks? That’s when I knew, if this is what I want, I’m going to have to spend a lot more time with my herd. I have time. They are what I do. If this is what I want to experience, then I am going to have to invest that same kind of time and commitment. If I’m very lucky, my horses will invite me to ride them some day. If it’s ever going to happen, it will happen this way. I know. Because CR did it this way. This is one way there that I know works. I let you all know how it goes.
Dear judith,
A great tip for you. When your horese’s energy is big and you feel a tad concerned you can just ask your horse to stay way form your personal space untill her energy is lessend. this way he can not hurt you.
Working with horses at liberty is always easy to do once you can teach your horse that no matter what it must listen to the distance you need to set between you and your horse.
With my method I respect a horses rights on his boundries and I hold him to respecting mine.
How horses start to precieve that a horse is there leader is by how the lead horse never steps into another horses personal space uninvited and how it can keep it’s personal space from being violated by other horses.
If I am telling you something you alread know then my message may in fact help others. Thanks for sharing.
Sometimes I could just stand with Mistral’s nose against my face – him inhaling my breath and me inhaling his. Then he would nibble my chin with his lips. Never biting, always just nibbling with total love and affection. It’s almost as if my heart stops beating in awe when this happens.
I congratulate the writers of such lovely stories! It really touches me.
Thanks Carolyn for waking us up to write again.
Your approach makes me think at my mother who organised regularly a family reunion to strenghten the bond between my brothers and sister. By keeping in touch, the family bonds stay close.
I still go out writing among the horses, I write myself empty till no more thaughts come over.
Then I look around, feel, hear and smell while watching my friends. I feel their energy and thankfullness comes over me. And then it happens: I get inspiration to work out my purpose in life. It feels like I’ve finally found my way in the human world.
I’ve set up my first own workshop with people. Of course the horses are playing a big part too; they help me and the others to face ourself and just be in the moment.
As using the waterhole rituals is becoming a daily activity, the horses behave in a respectfull way with people.
It’s a very powerfull feeling! Thank you Carolyn!
my story is one of self-empowerment…truly believing in myself, that I have the power from within to truly help someone.
One night I felt a particular strong urge to go out to the barn and see my gelding. So I went and it was close to midnight. He softly nickered as he saw me enter the gate toward his paddock and I followed his invitation to stand close to his warm body. I had the urge to put my hands on his right hind hamstring and so I did. I told him that I had no idea what to do but knew he needed my strength and so i kept my hands there and breathed deeply and thought of the lovely night. I stayed with my hands for some time. I glanced at my watch and it had been 15 or so minutes since I first layed my hands on him. A minute more rolled by and he yawned, sighed, began a huge cat-like stretch and then carefully layed down and went to sleep with his head resting against my laced brown boot. I wispered goodnight and quietly left.
He has since summoned me somehow twice more and I have had the “urge” to lay my hands on him in specific places. It is always close to midnight and always ends with him going into a deep relaxed state. Very interesting, very empowering, very special.
Seven days ago we didn’t sit together because the wind was blowing and i felt it sweeping us away.
Six days ago we didn’t sit together because the children were crying when they got home from school.
Five days ago we didn’t sit together because I had an argument with my ex-husband and he told me i was pathetic.
Four days ago we didn’t sit togetrher because the sun was shining hard and the flies were biting and i wanted to close the curtains and stop the light from beckoning me.
Three days ago we didn’t sit together because i thought about taming a wild mustang and you were there sodden and strange in the field with your head low and your eyes soft.
Two days ago we didn’t sit together because i had a dream the night before about drowning and it took me far in to myself so by the time i awoke i was so far out of myself i may have well been asleep.
Yesterday i thought about sitting with you and i was so afraid that i taught you something instead – you were a good boy.
Today I didn’t think about sitting with you because when i got to our field i heard the woodpecker chip-chipping in the tree. He took me by surprise, his flash of red, his urgent call. I looked up into the brushes of the tall fur tree, smiled and said ‘Hey, it’s okay.’ I sat in the shade and waited. And then your breath on my neck. Shortly after, i remembered your smell, heard you pulling and grinding the grass in your mouth. I’d forgotten. I was nine again.
The peace I’ve found in “just” being with the horse is amazing. Our horses manage to bring me into the moment in a way I’ve not often reached in meditation. The intense clarity of everything around us……the brilliance of the green trees against the bright blue sky, the touch of the sun on my skin, the birds playing and singing, the wind moving, the rustle of a thousand movements that normally go unnoticed is so beautiful and something I seek constantly now.
I used to wonder if animals (especially domesticated ones) were bored but now I realise they are in a constant state of awareness which brings peace and harmony. I could easily spend all my time in the paddock in that state.
I’ve learned to enter into their space without any expectations and the joy we experience together is well worth the time it’s taken me to learn the art of stillness.
I thank the horse and people like Carolyn who are so willing to share when we take the time to listen.
I like this particular blog a lot. I have a lot of stories. It is difficult in these days of sensory overload and universal stress, To quiet down and trust and stay open. I try to have a technology allowance. That’s one way. I don’t watch the news or read papers. Sharing territory has become my most used ritual and I don’t read or do anything. I just do nothing but enjoy the presence of my horses.
Hello Carolyn – It’s a joy to be blogging with you again. I hope the new Water Ritual Insider’s Circle is going well – what am I saying, of course it is!!!!
I have two magical/meditative snippets. Actually three. As a member of the last WRIC, you gave me perfect opportunities to figure things out. I figured out, unconsciously, that I didn’t have to only read a book while Sharing Territory (first ritual). I began closing my eyes and listening, breathing, feeling with my skin, feet on the ground, and like the slow rising ocean tide I sat by this morning, connecting with the Divine all around me and Lady (Sheltland pony).
Since our Circle, Lady and I have created a ritual that is definitely magical. When I get there and we greet each other, I go down on one knee, sometimes my hands and knees, in front of her and bow my head. She breaths into my hair, rests her chin on my head, visits both sides of my head, my ears, her warm breath whooshing. I rub my head and hair gently against her muzzle. It is a timeless place we share. We stay together doing this until it’s time to stop and she walks off to nibble for leaves in the dirt. Recently I arrived with a headache and Lady healed me during the ritual. When we finished I felt fine!
Finally, while doing Reiki (Reiki is a type of energy work) with Lady magic occurs. Today, I was with her in her stall, giving Reiki. She moved about, a bit restless but still obviously receiving and releasing. It was a short session. Her stall and the mini Tess’s stall are right next to each other. You have to go through Lady’s to get to Tess’s and it’s a half door that seperates them. Well, I had suspected this before, Tess was standing against her door, receiving the Reiki. As I was finished with Lady I took the opportunity, turned aroundnand offered Reiki to Tessie. She stood there, as quiet and sweet as could be, receiving very deeply. Her head bowing in relaxation. Now Tess is rambunctious and nips and pushes her way by if she wants to. I have never been able to give her Reiki as she always wanted to nibble on my hands! And she’d never stand still. I’d given up on her. So here she was, nodding off, licking and chewing. Peace settled on her and me. But the magic hasn’t happened yet. Behind me, Lady was standing close and licking like crazy. I just knew she was helping me give Reiki to Tess. And as we all were together, for some reason I remembered this little boy in my Montessori class, when I was 22. Ah, so young! He was such a quiet, competent and smart child that I, in my ignorance, did not give him the attention he wanted. Just as that memory flashed through my mind, Tess communicated to me that she really wanted to work with me. She wants my attention and she wants to do the Rituals. She has wanted this for awhile but I didn’t notice. I promised her that I would work with her but that she couldn’t nip at me. Tess lifted her head up, reached up with her nose and let me pat her. No nipping! We’ll see how long that lasts but it’s a beginning.
I’m glad I had a chance to tell you and share it with others.
Just to update you, Lady actually did real Companion Walked with me on Saturday! Right next to me – with her ears back! She hasn’t done it again but she follows me. I say hello and then walk away and wait. She will come up and stand behind me. I walk off and wait, she comes up and stands behind me. We make our way around the paddock this way!
Missing you and wishing you well, Mary
Once upon a time there was a woman.
She looked in the mirror and saw reflected a stranger.
Where had all her beauty gone? Her youth, her dreams?
There she was at home with 4 children at her hip, alone and overwhelmed.
Sadness had begun to creep into her days.
Sometimes there was anger.
Where had she gone? Who was this woman?
Then one day she met an old abused mare.
She felt instant connection to this poor emaciated creature.
The mare was an unwanted and unloved, used up broodmare.
She was no longer seen or apreciated.
She was shrivelling up and dieing.
Was it any coincidence that there in the flesh was a reflection of who the woman thought she was?
So she took the mare and loved her dearly.
she had never had a horse and did not have any experience but she dared to just the same.
She blocked out the whole world and its noises until there was only the mare and herself.
Everyday she cared for her friend and something began to change in her.
Now there was hope.
She was not alone, she had found the one creature on this earth who could understand her.
They were sisters, kindred spirits.
When the woman realized this, magic began to happen.
Time began to stand still in the mare’s presence.
They would sit through the days together in the long grass and feed their babies together.
They would share a meal and just watch the sun set.
Before long months had passed and something beautiful had happened.
The woman was shining
The woman was alive once more.
And just as the woman had begun to reclaim herself and her life
The mare began to say goodbye and prepare to go on to the next one.
And there they were…
Two female spirits
Together on this earth for a breif moment.
They were special simply because they were.
Their lives were sacred, simply because they beleived it to be so.
It didnt matter if the world agreed or not
They knew the truth.
Thankyou Carolyn
Caroline, as often do as you did, as in the UK the winter is about to arrive and oh how I love the stables.
I bring my pony into the stable at about 4 in the afternoon and spend hours, grooming, sitting on the floor, listening to music etc while he munches on his hay.
Often we watch the rain, thunder, lightning outside as it is dark by 4pm, over the door together. He is 11.3 and I often doze over his back while he dozes on the door.
I even have Storm music from a website to put on at night when I cant sleep because of my pain, and I think of being with him. Lovely thoughts to go to sleep to.
Of course summer is great to lay on your back in the field too. But I so enjoy winter. Wherever I am and it starts to storm, my first thought is of me and my pony together. I am 48 so this is not a childhood dream, it is a bond I have waited for all my life.
Today was extremely windy. I decided to bring my horse into a big barn and share territory with him. Prior to starting the waterhole rituals with him I wouldn’t have felt confident to separate him from his friends on such a windy day. At first he was standing looking out over the entrance door to the barn, calling a bit to his friends out in the field. I went and sat in my chair feeling fairly relaxed. Then I just meditated, concentrating on my breathing or the scenery in the distance. My horse chewed on the barn door from time to time, and I would move him away by leading him from behind. After a while he came and stood over on the bed beside me, and relaxed. Then I groomed him at liberty, and did some body work, all the time keeping myself in the moment. He sighed, and licked and chewed alot – so I quess he was having a relaxing time too, even though the wind was howling and rattling the metal sides of the barn we were in.
Hi Carolyn,
The information age has not reduced the pressures and hectiness of life but increased them. We need to be able to find the state of mind that Carolyn so aptly describes here but more importantly has coached me in during the Inner Circle group.
I have found this exact journey with my two horses, my wild brumby, Sakima and my domestic, riding horse Zippin. I enjoy the moment, just being with my boys, hearing the frogs, the wind, the lyre birds and bush birds and watching the kangaroos. You do become lost in the moment and enter a state that is different to what I face each day in my business.
Because of this I have better lead the company through the economic downturn. What is amazing is that I am now applying the principles of switch off your mind, enjoy the moment to my sales people. Last night I was counselling a stressed team member who had lost the plot. After the first call I left it for an hour, rang her back and the first comment she volunteered was I just think too much and my mind won’t stop.
Eureka, I thought now this person may come through this. I listened and then talked as to how I switch my mind off with my horses from Carolyn’s work. Normal yoga did not work for me but the Water Hole Rituals did. I told her the story of Sakima’s journey and where I just sit with him for hours not thinking and doing nothing and being in a state of calm and relaxation. Enjoying the moment as horses do.
So I am going to print today’s blog and give it to her so she may explore her own journey in switching off our busy minds and finding her path to this state.
Thankyou Carolyn and your principles apply way beyond horsemanship. I enjoy the moment in my business and it is amazing what happens. Yes, we still need goals and systems etc but we also need to be able to have time to not be bound by these business rules and enjoy the moment.
I’m really interested in this because, like your lady, I wanted to work on my relaxation and to have my mare and me relaxed and in harmony. I was kind of achieving this and then I realised that in encouraging this I was shutting off her exuberance and spirit. I think I’m a little afraid of that and feel happier when she’s half asleep and yet I also feel all is not well and I need to bring my energy up and be more provocative too.
When I see her dancing in the field with her companion mares I realise I’m missing out so I now need to work on being assertive and provocative as well as relaxed so that I can be a better leader and she can have more space to express her true nature.
On a day off from work I decided to take my horse on a long walk to exerise him, we were both walking. I took the wrong road. I thought the distance to the road I was looking for was a short distance away but it was not. The road we were walking was a busy road with lots of car traffic. I kept telling my horse we were almost there to the safe road I was looking for. Each time a car drove past us I started to realize I had made a bad mistake. I think my horse new it before I did. All of a sudden as if I were the child he said to me I’ve had enough, I am going home. He pulled me like a master turned himself around and went back toward home. I was shaking with fear. He made me realize how stupid I was and how I put us both in danger. I mis judged what I was doing. I did not have the correct plan, but he did. This was a lesson he thought me well.
Betsy Sonnenberg