Being a Better Version of Yourself

from April 2023 Saddle Up! Magazine

Equine Small Business Series Spotlight: Sporthorse Saddlery

By Kim Cardeccia | https://confidencethroughconnection.com/

At the MI Horse Expo last month, I had the opportunity to have some great conversations. Not surprising horses equines were always in the subject line. I was with Turning Pointe Donkey Rescue, and made some new friends, donkey and human. So many great stories!

Reflecting back on those stories, I noticed that there was a theme of shifts. In every meaningful story, there was something that shifted which brought the storyteller to a different place or space. They were able to get a new result from how things got reworked or rewired in the scenario they were sharing Some of the stories were about how horse people found their way to donkeys. Some of the stories were about how they got their heart equine and parts of that journey together. Many of the stories were about how an equine helped them ease into a better version of themselves.

Although I enjoyed all the stories, I’m sure you can tell which grabbed the attention of my heart the most. It will never cease to amaze me the ways in which our lives are touched and shaped by horses. I mean, equines. Still a work in progress, I am!

The shifts that I am referring to are those that brought the story teller to a new edition of their identity In order to reach whatever goal they were seeking with their equine, they had to let go of a limiting belief. Limiting beliefs become part of our identity. Not our essence, but our identity. We think we can’t, and guess what, that happens. We claim the identity of someone that can’t.

Horses somehow lead us to where we bump up against those problematic identities. Those versions of ourselves we have formed based on past experience. Or by what we have been told by others throughout our lives.

Going on the inner journey, checking in on and adjusting if necessary what’s going on inside our heads and our hearts, will steer us toward making healthy changes that offer us positive results. We can go on the lookout for those thoughts that limit us, telling us that we will not be able to reach our goals. If we also notice how we feel, we’ll get some powerful clues about those undesirable statements.

If, for example, we find a statement that offers “I can’t...” we’ve found a starting point. This is a reason to celebrate, not lose hope. Awareness is always the first step. Now we know what we want to change. This is where our feelings, our emotional guidance system, can be a huge help. When we say “I can’t”, there is a flat or lower feeling with that statement.

We can then search for a statement that offers us a better feel. Maybe ... “I am learning”, or “I can do this, which is on the way to the result I want.” Something similar that offers a feeling of relief or hope. This is the shift! This is where the power lies that will help us gain momentum toward reaching our goals. In a way that is believable and attainable. The more times we recite our new state-ment, the closer it will get to being our new belief The newest addition to our identity So, we need to remember to choose con-sciously We are creating our new way of being in the world, by what we tell ourselves over and over again.

Maybe you’re like me. You might look inward in order to be able to better help your horses. Your equines. This spills over to your kids, your friends and family Equines inspire a lot of growth. Although the journey can be bumpy at times, it’s always worth it. Let them help you shift into the next best version of yourself

Kimberly Cardeccia is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 35 years of horse experience.

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Ayla is a spotted Leopard Appaloosa mare. Can you find her within this issue of Saddle Up! Magazine? Charlotte