A new year always has a way of making us slow down and take inventory—of where we’ve been, what worked, what didn’t, and where we want to go next. I’ve never been big on resolutions, but I do believe in starting the year with intention. Having something simple to come back to when things get busy or uncomfortable. That’s why each year I try to choose a word or a phrase that helps guide my thinking, my preparation, and my daily decisions—and this year, that word is believe.

Not try to believe.
Not hope.
Just believe.

Because when you truly believe something is possible—when you believe you can do it—that changes how you prepare, how you work, and how you show up.

Belief Is the Separator

Belief is a powerful thing. It’s often the difference between people who make progress and people who stay stuck.

We talk about iron sharpens iron all the time, but one of the biggest reasons that’s true is because belief is contagious. When you’re around people who consistently do the things you want to do, you start believing it’s possible.

You see it in competition. Spend enough time around winners and you don’t just admire them—you start believing that level is attainable. Not because it’s easy, but because you’ve seen it done, over and over.

And when belief is paired with preparation, discipline, and commitment, it becomes a game-changer.

I had to face this myself last fall. After a roping at Dodge City earlier in the fall, I had to get honest and ask myself a tough question: Do you really believe you can win? At that point, the answer was no. I didn’t like it, but it was the truth.

So I went to work—on my mental game, daily. And the results followed. I felt different. I competed differently. Not because I magically got better overnight, but because I was feeding myself the right mindset instead of letting doubt creep in.

Belief has to be reinforced—just like anything else.

“I Will” vs. “I’ll Try”

One thing that really stuck with me recently was hearing how Navy SEALs eliminate the phrase “I’ll try.” Because “try” leaves room for doubt. It leaves an exit ramp.

“I will” shuts the door.

I’ve caught myself plenty of times saying, “I’ll try to get that done.” I don’t say that anymore. Now it’s, “I will.” If it doesn’t happen today, it happens first thing tomorrow—but the belief stays intact.

That’s the mindset I’m carrying into this year.

Where Belief Meets Application: A Private Clinic Recap

Last weekend, I hosted a private clinic with a great group from western Oklahoma. Smaller group, diverse ages, solid horses—and I love those settings because you get time to slow things down and focus on details.

And that’s where belief really meets the work.

We spent a lot of time talking about how small changes make big differences over time. Something as simple as closing your hand on the rein instead of holding it with two fingers can completely change the clarity of your signal.

We worked a lot on transitions—treating your horse like it has gears. Asking for the next speed intentionally, then letting them stay there on a loose rein. If you have to hold them in a speed, you’re not controlling it—you’re just managing it.

As horses learn to change speeds while staying balanced, you eliminate lunging, bracing, and losing form. And I’ll be the first to admit, that’s something I’ve gotten much better at teaching over the last few years by working on it consistently myself.

That’s belief in action: trusting the process enough to slow down, clean things up, and reinforce the foundation.

You Can’t Believe Without Doing the Work

One thing I stressed all weekend—and something I tell my interns constantly—is this: you can’t be afraid to try things, and you can’t be afraid to fail.

You don’t build feel by sitting on the fence. You don’t create belief by waiting for perfect conditions. You get in the saddle, you go to work, and you learn as you go.

That applies to horses and to people. Just like we repeat and reinforce foundational principles with horses, we have to do the same with ourselves. Belief isn’t built once—it’s built daily, through repetition.

So as this year gets rolling, here’s what I’ll leave you with:

Belief isn’t hype. It isn’t motivation that fades after January. It’s a decision—followed by disciplined action.

If you want this to be your best year yet, ask yourself: What do I need to do to truly believe in myself?

Because when belief leads the way—and the work backs it up—the results take care of themselves.

Let’s go to work.

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