Working Within Your Life

It's like that saying: sometimes you must take your own advice. If last year taught me anything, it's that I really need to do just that. I’ve always loved learning—whether it's courses, clinics, one-on-ones—on all kinds of topics—energy, barrel racing, horses, business. I genuinely love it. Honestly, though, many courses felt life changing while I was in them, and I do believe my life did shift. But once real life set in, much of that faded away. Did my life continue to change after that? If I'm truly honest, the answer is no. Why was that? I absolutely loved the course material— it was fantastic—and I’ve learned from some incredible people.

Am I the problem . . .

I started to descend into the dark rabbit hole of thinking I’ll never create my dream life, or even set a goal, when I can’t keep up with the teachings and practices of this one course or clinic. Whenever I attended a clinic, whether it was barrels or roping, I seemed to get worse afterward, and I would think, " Aren’t I supposed to improve, not get worse? Sometimes I’d even revert to how I used to do things because at least that worked better. Now, looking back, I realize I was trying to fit their way of doing everything into my life, which didn’t always work.

Words of Wisdom

My dad always told me growing up that if you learn one thing from a clinic or course, it’s a win. Being the overthinker and overachiever that I am, I would jump right in and want to change or do things exactly as my teacher did. I wish I had listened more to him now. Maybe not even listening is the right word, but I thought about what that meant, or if I didn’t understand, Dee Butterfield once told me that you should ask why? Everything. She said first, if you don’t understand, you would probably misuse the information properly or, second, know when the right time to use it is. Anyway, I’m kind of jumping all over, but it all has a purpose, I promise.

My realization

If I figure out why I was asked to do something, I can then determine what works for me and what doesn’t. I could take one, two, or a few things from what I learned that make sense for my life, my business, or my horse, etc. If I reflect on that information, I can even go a step further and consider how I can apply it to my life in a meaningful way. Every person's life in this world is different in some way or another, so someone else's plan probably won't work for you perfectly, but you can take the parts of it that do fit and can enhance your life in some way or another.

This is a step I’ve been missing, and maybe I haven’t used everything I’ve learned to the fullest. You know your life situation better than anyone else, so you can decide what works and what doesn’t. I’m not saying you shouldn’t listen to others who know more — that’s how you learn and grow. But what you do with that information is up to you.

My game plan moving forward

When I am at a clinic or course, whatever it may be, I intend to dive in wholeheartedly, stay fully present, and ask questions whenever I can. Let my body and soul fully experience their teachings, but afterwards, I will pause to reflect on what works for me and what does not. What is my main takeaway? Then, can I incorporate it into my daily routine as part of my rituals?

Happy Easter weekend, everyone! I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride with me and my thoughts on the journey. From today until April 10, if you book a session with me, you’ll get $10 off. No need to complete the session before April 10—just book it! Mention Easter10 when you message me. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

With Light and Love

Whit