Riding around the warm-up ring, trying to survive the chaos of horses going in all directions, my nerves made me feel sick before I even entered the ring. All I could think about was keeping my horse safe and the possibility of making a mistake that could hurt him. This was my anxiety—the fear of failure, of causing harm.
As riders, we all know that feeling of anxiety creeping in—whether it's before a big competition, an unfamiliar course, or just the pressure to perform well. For years, I struggled with anxiety in my riding, and I know many of you can relate. But here's the truth: it doesn’t have to control us. Over time, I discovered a few powerful mindset shifts that helped me finally overcome my anxiety, and I want to share them with you.
1. Embrace Imperfection – Mistakes Help Us Learn
The first shift was realizing that mistakes aren’t the enemy—they’re part of the process. For so long, I beat myself up over every misstep. Each mistake felt like failure, and that only fueled my anxiety. But once I embraced imperfection, I started seeing mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. The more I accepted that I wouldn’t be perfect every time, the less pressure I put on myself, and the more I could focus on improving.
Next time you make a mistake, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? Use it as fuel to grow.
2. Shift From Fear to Curiosity – Explore the Fear
Anxiety thrives on fear. For a long time, I avoided the things that made me anxious, but that only let the fear grow. The game-changer for me was leaning into fear with curiosity. Instead of asking, what if I fail? I asked, why do I feel this way?
Exploring my anxiety helped me understand its root and take away its power. I realized that fear isn’t a signal to stop—it’s a signal to pay attention, learn, and grow. Curiosity is key to overcoming anxiety.
3. Build Momentum – Soak Up Courage Pennies!
Every time I took a small courageous step; I added a courage penny to my bank. The more courage pennies I collected, the less room there was for anxiety. I started with small, achievable goals—like taking a deep breath before each ride or focusing on one part of my course. Each small win built my confidence and shifted my mindset.
The more I practiced facing anxiety head-on, the more control I gained. Anxiety became less of a roadblock and more of a sign that I was growing.
Beat Your Anxiety!
If you’re looking for extra support to face your riding anxiety head-on, my Courage Coaching Program is here for you. We’ll work on strategies to strengthen your mindset, embrace challenges, and turn setbacks into steppingstones. Whether you want to improve your riding performance or just build more confidence in everyday life, I’m here to help.
Click HERE to learn more and join the program. Let’s tackle this journey together!
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