Words have power. They have energy. They create a state of being in our minds. Horses don’t use words, but we understand the energy behind what you say.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I say, the wounds from a stick or stone will probably heal, but the damage caused by the negative words we hear may sting for life.
Never underestimate how your words affect those around you, as well as how they reflect back and affect YOU. If your self-talk is negative, your experience is going to be negative. If you speak positively, your experience will reflect the same. If you bark and growl at your horse without careful thought to the attitude you’re projecting, your horse is going to feel insecure and you’re going to maintain a negative vibration. If you’re snapping at the people around you, the energy you’re projecting can be just as damaging as a pointed stick jabbing into someone’s heart.
Have you ever asked yourself, is it better to be right, or is it better to be kind? It’s a very pertinent question. Sometimes you have to stand your ground and be firm in what you consider “right.” Sometimes being right is just not that important. Choosing which applies in each situation is one of the things you have to decide on your own. Observing the results of your choices, right or wrong, is where wisdom is born.
Your horse’s interaction with you is a terrific reflection of your choices. Horses are congruent, honest, and in the moment. They’re a terrific mirror of your state of being. If you take the time to observe, and you’re open to the message, you can learn a lot from your equine friend.
Love, Moshi
From Indy:
The big gray barn cat got in my face today. She told me I was a brat. She swatted at my nose and scratched me bloody! I can’t believe she did that! I was just trying to get her to run so I could chase her, like I do the bunnies. But no, she said she is much too mature for my silly games.
Silly games! My games aren’t silly! I’m very serious about my games. That really hurt my feelings! I thought about biting that darn cat’s tail right off, but I knew I’d be in trouble if I did. So I walked away.
Moshi told me to let it go and not worry about what that cat thinks. She’s a negative thinker who likes to push other’s buttons, and is never going to be any different. It’s MY choice how I react to her. I have the choice about whether I let her words ruin my day, or whether I’m going to move on to something more productive.
Okay… as much as I’d like to pay her back for hurting my feelings, I’m going to move on. Moshi and I are going to go find bunnies in the grass for me to chase! I’m glad he’s my friend. He helps me refrain from reacting out of my immediate emotions. When I stop and take a breath before I react, I can make better decisions on how to respond.
If you tend to react before you really think, you may want to learn to take a few breaths before you jump. A moment to reflect may totally change what you do in a situation. It might save you from having to fix the damage your initial response may have caused. Counting to ten may sound like a cliché, but it really does work.
Moshi did a great job distracting me from my anger at the cat. Had I actually chased her and bit off her tail, I’d probably be banished from the barn for life. That would make me incredibly sad. So now, I just give her a wide berth. I don’t need her approval, and I don’t need to upset myself by hanging around with a stinkin’ thinker.
Are there any stinkin’ thinkers at your barn? Let ’em go. Don’t get involved. They do nothing but drag you down, and might even get you in trouble someday. Find the positive, uplifting people and hang out with them! Better yet, be one of those people!
Attitudes are very contagious. What are you spreading around?
Love, Indy
Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602