Ep 136: Taking Advantage of a Preparation Season
Have you ever been in a season of life where you felt like you were waiting? Maybe you’re waiting for a colt to grow old enough to ride, or maybe you’re waiting to heal from an injury. Maybe you’re waiting for your work schedule to become more manageable so you have more time to spend with your horses. Maybe you’re waiting for your finances to become more stable so you can invest more into your horsemanship. Whatever it may be, I know that waiting can be tough. But, what if you saw this time not as a waiting period but as a period of preparation?
My assistant trainer has been in a waiting season for quite some time as she has been recovering from an extensive shoulder surgery. As she’s been recovering, we’ve been having a lot of discussions about how she can prepare for the opportunities that lie on the other side of her recovery.
Although her physical preparation must go at a predetermined pace, that doesn’t mean she can’t seek out preparation in other areas of her life as well. I challenged her to write down five things she could do to prepare herself mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even nutritionally, to help herself hit the ground running when her shoulder was back to 100%. Then, I challenged her to do the same for her horses. What five small actions can she take to help her horses be their best when she is ready to start roping again?
With her work ethic, it was no surprise to me that she took this challenge to heart. Once she was cleared to begin roping again, she hit the ground running. Although, physically, it was a bit of a slow start, it didn’t take her long to regain her momentum.
That is the power of preparation. Success occurs at the intersection of preparation and opportunity.
Even if you are in a season of waiting, you can still prepare for those future opportunities mentally, physically, nutritionally, spiritually, and emotionally. Get good rest. Eat well. Feed yourself with positivity. Stimulate those feel-good emotions and experiences. And, make a habit of feeling this way. Commit to those small actions for yourself and your horses, and do them every day.
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