Frustration and anxiety often cloud our judgment and hinder our progress, both in our personal lives and in our relationships with our horses. By understanding and addressing these emotions, we can unblock our potential and create pathways for growth and connection.

A Shared Struggle: Human and Horse

I recently spoke with a client about how frustration and anxiety can lead us to block our emotions and stifle our forward thinking. This conversation reminded me of an incident with my young horse that perfectly illustrated this concept.

The Incident with My Young Horse

One day, I opened a section of the fence to allow my horses to move to the bottom terrace. My young horse, however, couldn’t find the opening. Despite being just two feet to the right, his frustration at seeing the other horses already on the bottom terrace prevented him from finding the way forward. His anxiety and frustration created a mental block that kept him from seeing the path right in front of him.

Drawing Parallels: Human Experience

Just like my young horse, we often find ourselves in situations where frustration and anxiety cloud our vision. We get stuck, unable to see the clear path ahead. For instance, during our coaching sessions, clients frequently express feeling overwhelmed by these emotions, which prevent them from making progress in their personal or professional lives.

The Impact of Emotions on Our Judgment

Both humans and horses are deeply affected by emotions. When we’re frustrated or anxious, our ability to think clearly and make rational decisions diminishes. This emotional block can prevent us from seeing simple solutions, much like my young horse who couldn’t find the opening in the fence.

Finding the Opening: The STEADIES Strategy

To overcome these emotional blocks, we need strategies that can help us manage frustration and anxiety, both for ourselves and our horses. Here’s a method I call STEADIES:

1. Stop: When frustration hits, the first step is to stop. Pause any actions or thoughts that are contributing to the anxiety.

2. Take a Breath: Taking a moment to breathe deeply can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety, allowing clearer thinking. This also helps our horses feel our calmness.

3. Evaluate: Changing our perspective can help us see new possibilities and solutions that we might have missed.

4. Adjust: Make small adjustments to your approach. This might involve shifting your position, changing your technique, or altering your mindset.

5. Dismantle: Break down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts. Tackling smaller tasks can make the overall goal less daunting.

6. Implement: Take action on the adjustments and dismantled parts step by step.

7. Encourage: Be patient with yourself and your horse. Recognize that frustration and anxiety are natural and that it’s okay to take time to find the way forward. Celebrate small successes and progress.

8. Simplify: Simplify the process as much as possible. Remove any unnecessary complexities that might be adding to the frustration.

Embracing the Journey

By recognizing and addressing our frustrations and anxieties using the STEADIES strategy, we can unblock our emotions and pave the way for growth and connection. Just as my young horse eventually found his way to the bottom terrace, we too can find our openings and move forward with clarity and purpose.

Reflect on your own experiences with frustration and anxiety. How have these emotions blocked your progress? What strategies can you implement to find your openings and move forward?

Feel free to share your thoughts and stories with me in the comments below.

Thank you for being here.

Rachel W