What do you want to change this year?

Happy New Year to you! It’s that time of year when we have the post festivities slump, the weather is rubbish (in the UK for sure), days are short, it rains, snows, it’s windy and cold and let’s face it, riding becomes less appealing. 

Well, NOW is the time to make your mind up what you’re going to do about your confidence issues this year. It’s a fresh start, the whole year stretches before you and are you going to let it be the same as the last?

The thing is, once we make our minds up something HAS to change and WILL change, we are halfway there. Once you give your mind a clear direction, once your mind is made up, your subconscious will start searching out opportunities for you to make it happen. You simply have to open yourself up to the possibilities that are out there… ‘But I don’t have the time or the money, I don’t know how!’ I hear you cry. Yes, those are all fine excuses for keeping yourself stuck! Beware of the ‘but’ word as it erases everything that goes before it ‘I really want more confidence but’ simply means you don’t really want more confidence, not now anyway. So why wouldn’t you? Believe it or not fear is what is likely stopping you:

• What if you invest some time and money into this and it still doesn’t work; what then?
• You feel you don’t deserve it or aren’t worth it. Investing in yourself can feel very uncomfortable.
• Change is scary, as horrible as being fearful and anxious may be it can become your favourite bad feeling and what would you do without it? You may do something that right now doesn’t seem safe (like cantering your horse) so it’s easier to stay where you are than take the risk.
• You wear your label with pride ‘nervous horse rider’ or the like. Be honest, does it define you? Who would you be without the label? How would people perceive you?
• The first step is always the hardest and it’s easier to stay put.

What do you really want to change this year? Who do you want to become? What would you love to be able to do with your horse this year? 

Where are you now? What is the first little, tiny, baby step you can take to move you towards what you really want? If the step you come up with seems daunting then how can you make it easier? What help do you need? Who can you ask? Where can you find it? How can you make time to take that first step and then the one after that and the one after that? If money is a challenge then what resources are out there that are free? How much can you invest in yourself? Maybe you can start with a self-help book or a hypnotic recording, something small just to get you started.

How can you motivate yourself and keep yourself on track? Maybe you can report your progress to a friend on a regular basis or give yourself a treat each time you achieve your next step. 

In conclusion, make your mind up what you want to change and do something about it, now. What are you waiting for?

To get you started you may want to join my Facebook group for support and advice, click HERE to request membership.