Growth & Goals

Over this past weekend, my husband Martin, earned his USDF Gold Medal. In our sport of Dressage this is a huge deal as it shows that the rider has shown adequate proficiency at the highest level of our sport.

Oftentimes, the journey towards achieving a goal can be a tumultuous road of setbacks, intense emotions and self discovery. One moment you feel in control, excited and hopeful. The next you feel completely dejected and like a total failure.

I think back to my experience earning my USDF Gold Medal. Boy did that Grand Prix humble me! I had no idea how tough the experience would be. I have always trained my own horses and the level of forward energy, engagement and balance needed for the Grand Prix was really eye opening for me!

When I look back on the experience and reflect all that I’ve learned, I can appreciate that it was in the failures that I grew the most as a rider. With each 58 or 59% I would reflect on what movements I needed to improve but, I really would go home and work on basics, trying to make my horses balance better, his trot more cadenced and his body more supple. When the horse is in the right energy, engagement and balance, the movements come easily.

I did have times where I would question if I were a good enough rider to train my horse...I had never even ridden passage- how was i supposed to train it? Fortunately, I was able to draw from my past experience- I had never ridden tempis until I did, I had never ridden a pirouette until I did, so, I knew that one way or another I would figure it out. Ultimately, my intense faith in myself won out and I did earn my gold medal.

With each perceived failure, you have one of two options: give up or dig your heels in and give it all you’ve got. Half the battle is just sticking with it. Have faith in yourself and know that accomplishing your goal can be a reality if you keep the right perspective. Perseverance is everything!

When you finally achieve what you have been working towards, you will be grateful for the end result but it’s in the hard work, the struggle, the failures, and the tears that you will experience the most growth. It’s in this growth that we become better riders, better athletes and better people.

Surrender to the experience. Be present each day as you work towards your goal because when you finally do achieve it, this glorious time of adventure and learning will only be a memory. We tend to focus on the future...if only I had XYZ, THEN I would be happy but, happiness is now, in this moment. Embrace it.

I wish you all the most beautiful experience of learning and growth as you journey towards your goal, whatever that may be.

I invite you to Awaken to the Truth of your Divine nature. You are love, you are loved and you are always enough.

Jenna