A friend of mine in Australia wrote to me this week, expressing her excitement about learning dressage after a career on the race track. She had been a bit discouraged at her progress because she was used to being successful on the track mostly by her strong will and a strong hand. Neither are very conducive to an artful picture of riding. Once she realized that she could break dressage down into small, understandable pieces that fit together like an elegant puzzle, her sense of self-worth soared. She didn’t have to force her way into success… she could gently finesse her way to success!
The level of worthiness we feel makes a huge difference in how we live our lives. It’s true that we can never rise above, nor outperform our own self-image. So if you want to improve your life, the first order of business is to improve your view of yourself.
This is easy to say, but is much harder to do. Are you open to a suggestion? Find a couple of friends you trust and feel safe with, and ask them to write down all the things about you that they LIKE. No negatives here… just the things they LIKE about you. Then do the same about yourself. Write down all the things about you that YOU like. Read these lists three times a day for 21 days. Then watch what shows up in your life!
I like my long flowing mane and tail, my shiny black coat, and my ability to do terrific pirouettes. Jane said she is most proud of my one tempis and my strong work ethic. I’m going to concentrate on these things for the next 21 days and see what happens!
In the meantime, I’m going to help the young mare who just moved into the barn with her confidence. She’s a diamond in the rough, and I want to be there with the polish! How about you? Is there someone you could help today?
Love, Moshi
From Indy:
Yesterday I went swimming with my friend Chance, when I got a mouthful of water and nearly choked! It scared me for a minute. It hurt, and I couldn’t breathe. Chance was worried too. He stayed right beside me and made sure I got out of the water okay. It was really nice of him.
When I got out of the water, I thought to myself how lucky I am to have such a great friend. I realized I’d never told him that. But I really do appreciate Chance and how good he treats me. After I stopped coughing, I nuzzled him with my nose and told him that he’s a great friend. It made him smile.
Who in your life is a great friend? Are there people who make you smile, help you feel safe, or otherwise make your life better? Perhaps today is a good day to let them know how much you appreciate them. It will make you both feel good.
Love, Indy
Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com