How Can Flexibility Help You Stay Calm?
I was sitting on my pretty grey mare, tears streaming down my face as my trainer yelled at me, "Make her move, now!" I had tried everything, but I couldn’t get her to budge. Frustrated, I got off and handed her to my trainer to "fix" the situation for me.

That day is etched in my memory as a moment when I was rigid—both physically and mentally. This experience fueled my fears, leaving me uncertain about how to cultivate flexibility. Eventually, I realized I needed to confront my fears instead of simply handing my horse off to someone else. By the time I sold her, I had learned some valuable lessons.

The Role of Mental Flexibility in Overcoming Fear:

Just as a horse can become stuck, I found myself in a similar mental state—frozen, staring blankly at the challenge ahead. I recognized that when working with horses, I would distract them to encourage movement. I needed to apply the same principle to myself. I learned to mentally redirect my focus, distracting myself from fear and refocusing my energy. Instead of curling up in a mental fetal position, I chose to embrace flexibility in my thoughts.

The Role of Physical Flexibility in Overcoming Fear

My mental rigidity translated to my body, causing it to shut down. Looking back at photos from that day, I noticed how slouched and curled up I appeared—essentially fetal while sitting on my horse. Since then, I’ve discovered that even a small adjustment, like lifting my head, can significantly boost my confidence. That tiny shift makes me want to straighten my shoulders and sit taller. I was amazed to find that this minor physical flexibility encouraged my horse to free up her feet and start moving. She could sense that I was ready to go.

Recently, my anxiety and fear have dropped to zero and calm has taken over.  I have received a number of hypnotherapy sessions, and it has added so much to my flexibility mentally.  If you have ever been curious about hypnotherapy and reducing fear and anxiety, schedule a chat with me to see if it would be a good fit for you.  Hypnochat with Me!



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Hey there! I’m Elise Hittinger—Fear Slayer, Confidence Creator, and your go-to Courage Coach.

 
Once upon a time, I was that fearless kid riding deep into Angeles National Forest without a second thought. Then bam—life threw me a plot twist. A horse flipped on me, pinning me beneath it, and fear crept in like an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave.

That moment tested everything. But here’s the wild part—I walked away with only bruises and a divine reminder that I wasn’t done yet. Fear may have stolen my joy for a while, but it did not get the final say.

Fast forward to a move to Kentucky, where the trails were calling my name. I had two choices: let fear keep the reins or take them back. Spoiler alert—I took them back. Now, I help other riders (and, honestly, anyone sick of fear running their life) do the same.

I make fear pack its little bags and GTFO. Whether it’s through hypnotherapy, NLP, or a little well-placed humor, I help people trade anxiety for confidence, doubt for courage, and overthinking for action.

So, if you’re ready to kick fear to the curb and rediscover the joy you deserve—I’m here for it. Let’s do this.

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