Ep 58: Effort, Courage & Confidence
We all have fears. We all have things that intimidate us. But, how many good things have you missed out on because you didn’t have the courage to move forward?
As human beings, our brains are wired to avoid situations where we feel challenged or uncomfortable. If we allow these tendencies to control our actions, we allow fear to paralyze us from moving forward.
On the other side of fear is where the blessings start to happen in your life. When faced with fear, the best thing to do is just to do something. Overcoming fear requires the courage to get moving, even if it’s just a small step.
Developing a mindset of courage is a daily practice. If you want to develop a courageous mentality, you must first work on your confidence and effort.
Effort is a non-negotiable, and I firmly believe that effort is a learned habit. When we set an expectation of effort for ourselves and our horses, we enable ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and rise to the occasion.
Although putting out a high level of effort can be challenging at times, effort is a prerequisite to confidence. Even if I don’t achieve the result I’m working toward, I’m never disappointed in myself when I know I’ve put out the effort. I have confidence knowing that I have done my part to prepare myself to receive great things.
When you have confidence in yourself, that confidence spills over to your horse. Confidence is what gives your horse a sense of trust in you. When your horse trusts you, it feels safe and comfortable around you, and it is more willing to listen to the responses you are asking for.
As we near the end of the year, I challenge you to set a goal to be courageous. Put forth the effort to build confidence in yourself and your horses. As your confidence builds, your courage will, too.
“Be Your Best Horsemanship” is brought to you by Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Better Horses Network, Purina, Healthycoat, CINCH, Starbar, and Clarifly. These brands have been part of the Phil Haugen Horsemanship team for many years, and their products continue to play an integral role in the success of our performance horse training program. To support these brands, visit our Sponsors tab.
