If you read the Harry Potter Books or saw the movies, there is a great representation of this concept! Turning Boggarts into something funny. Your greatest fear into something to laugh about. The spell, Riddikulus, all by itself makes me laugh as it reduces fear into hysterics!!!!
My Boggart is a horse rearing and falling over on me. My spell is for ACME's Wile-E-Coyote and the trap he has set to get the Road Runner. It is a horse wearing ballet slippers that can dance like the wind to make the Road Runner stop and the horse flips onto the Road Runner catching him. I am Wile-E-Coyote and of course I get squished by the horse but then pop right back up to do it all over again. This makes me laugh about my accident! RIDDIKULUS!!!!!!
When we share some of our most terrifying memories with friends, as they did that day in Hogwarts, the fear loses it's edge, often dissolving into laughter. There's a powerful reason for this, and it's the secret sauce behind my latest podcast episode, "Laughing Your Way Out of Fear."
Fear has a way of paralyzing us, keeping us from fully enjoying life or pursuing our dreams. But what if we could transform those fear-inducing memories into something less threatening, even funny? That's where the magic of cartooning comes in.
Picture this: Your biggest fear, that moment that makes your palms sweat just thinking about it, reimagined as a silly cartoon. Suddenly, that menacing shadow becomes a bumbling character with oversized feet. The thunderous voice that once terrified you? Now it's coming from a tiny mouse with a megaphone. That feeling of fear bubbles up as a good old fashioned belly laugh.
By visualizing our fears in this exaggerated, cartoon-like manner, we're actually rewiring our brain's response to these memories. We're taking control of the narrative, turning ourselves from victims into the directors of our own mental comedy show.
Remember, laughter isn't just about entertainment – it's a powerful tool for healing and growth. By finding the humor in our fears, we're not dismissing them, but rather disarming them. We're saying, "I see you, fear, and I choose to rewrite this story." I give you permission to rewrite your memories! Rem
So, are you ready to turn your fear memories into cartoons and laugh your way to a braver, more confident you? Just remember, RIDDIKULUS!!!!!
If you would like to hear my thoughts, it is on my Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast on most platforms or you watch it on Rumble or Youtube! Watch here!
One of my favorite quotes, from my Hypnosis Instructor Ali Campbell, "We are not afraid of what we think we are afraid of, we are afraid of what we think!" is powerful. You can't just rush through reading it. Especially with fear around horses.
I thought I was a afraid of a horse rearing and falling over on top of me. I believed that. When a horse would lift it head, I would get off, FAST. After hearing Ali, and really sitting with it, I realized he is 100% right. I was not afraid of a horse falling on me. I was afraid of my thoughts of a horse falling on me. It only happened once in reality. I have ridden thousands of hours. I have jumped hundreds of jumps. I was afraid of my thoughts, not the horses. The horses brought me joy.
Take a moment and really think about your fear and the thoughts about your fear. Then look at your thoughts versus reality, in this moment. To make it simple in my example, fear of rearing was my fear. But reality, it was my thoughts about "what if" the horse reared that I was afraid of. The horse wasn't even rearing. Heck, I could be sitting on the couch and think about the rearing and get sweaty palms. That is a fear of my thoughts, not a fear of the horse rearing.
The great news is that now we have awareness. Once we are aware, we can take action to resolve.
Here are three things that can help us overcome the fear of our thoughts. For me, this feels a lot less scary now that I know I am just afraid of my thoughts.
- Journaling exercises. Put pen to paper. Write how you want to feel, what you want to be thinking about, the thoughts about wonderful rides.
- Mindfulness. This is one of my favorites. If we are keeping our thoughts in the present moment, unless we are in the middle of some disaster, we can dissolve the fear. Stay present, in this moment. It is all we really have.
- Visualization techniques for positive riding experiences. Put all your senses into visualizing your best rides. What are you seeing? What are you feeling? What are you hearing? What are you smelling? Describe your best ride in all the detail you can put into it.
I talk about my feelings around this quote in my latest podcast which you can watch on Rumble here:
I had no idea the weight of the fear I was carrying around, until one day when I had found my courage I felt light as a feather. It was a while after I was riding again, and it just filled me with joy. Like many of you, we carry the weight of fear without even realizing it. I believe we can all find our courage again, when we choose to!
The weight of the fear takes a toll on our health. We were not designed to stay in freeze, fight, or flight mode. That stress wreaks havoc on our systems. It manifested for me in migraines and horrible "female" issues. It also takes a toll on our emotions and mental health. For me, I felt fear in a lot of areas of my life. Dentist, riding in a car as a passenger, and definitely with the horses. Removing the weight freed up all those things! Confidence filled me in all areas of my life. I was surprised.
Here are the steps that really helped me:
1. Changing my memories of my accident. Nobody said I had to remember it as it happened, I could choose to remember all the great things about that day.
2. Reframing negative thoughts. Become a master and taking those negative thoughts running around and switch them to wonderful thoughts. You get to choose your thoughts.
3. Gradual exposure to horses and riding. Find a process for courage that works for you. I look at this as a video game. You do a little bit and then go back to the start and then do a little bit more and then go back to the start. Each time, you are getting better and better and the fear won't have room inside of you anymore.
4. Building a support system. You are not alone! I remember how alone I felt in my fear. Even the trainers didn't understand my fear. I created a support group for all of us searching for courage. (Join free group here!)
5. Focusing on personal growth and resilience. Keep going. If you want the joy of riding again, you can make it happen. We are all cheering you on and I am here to support you.
To hear about overcoming triggers, my Blue car/Red car theory, you can hear it on my latest podcast: Listen now!
It was a beautiful day for a ride and I decided to just push through my fear and ride anyway. It was one of those days where things shift inside of you and something wakes up. I got on, shaking and sweaty palms determined to ride and my horse was good but I could feel tension building in her as she was feeling me. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It was fair to her to have to carry my fear!
Horses being prey animals depend on feeling the energy around them. It is instinctual for them to stay alive. I was not honoring my horse by putting all the fearful energy on her back. I got off of her. I knew I had to do more work so that she would not have to carry that weight and fear. I had to reduce my fear and here are 3 tips for doing just that:
1. Prepraration - Once I really looked at my preparation, safety equipment, mindset, physical fitness and the horse's preparation - are they calm grooming, quiet, relaxed, no tension or swishing tail, my confidence shot up. I could now see before getting on if it was a good day for both of us.
2. Become your favorite trainer - In my mind, I become one of my favorite trainers as soon as I get to the barn. What would they do? How would they feel? They would not let the horse walk over them; they would expect the horse to be quiet with them. They would be clear asking the horse for something. This really helps my courage. I just leave me at home for a bit.
3. Focus in the moment - The more you can focus in the moment you are in, what are you doing, how are you feeling and what is your horse doing, how is your horse feeling, in that moment you will start to understand the subtitles before something happens. The days to ride and the days to play instead of riding. You will notice tension in the neck or flank, or you will notice deep quiet breathing and relaxed muscles. The more you are in the moment, the lower your anxiety and fear will be.
There are so many things we can do to overcome our fear and nerves. I talk about a few other things to help in my latest podcast (on most podcast platforms) if you would like to hear more! PODCAST
The sun on my face, the breeze in the mane, feeling the horse beneath me, partnering with me on adventures, whether it is in the arena jumping or out on the trails, the feelings of connection with the horse are precious and unique. Horseback riding provides a wealth of psychological benefits that contribute to overall well-being and mental health. From reducing stress and anxiety to boosting confidence and self-esteem, the psychological advantages of horseback riding are both profound and diverse.
Here are 4 ways horseback riding boots mental health:
1. A key psychological benefit of horseback riding is its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress. I know, for those of us with fear, it doesn't seem like it, but remember back to your first rides and how good you felt after you dismounted. Spending time with horses and engaging in the rhythmic motion of riding can have a calming effect on the nervous system, lowering cortisol levels and inducing a state of relaxation. The peacefulness of nature and the bond formed between rider and horse further enhance this sense of tranquility, providing a welcome escape from the pressures of daily life.
2. Riding is a great way to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. The physical activity involved in riding stimulates the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters known as the body's natural mood elevators, your feel good stuff. Riding makes you feel better.
3. The sense of accomplishment and mastery that comes with mastering new riding skills can also boost self-confidence and self-esteem, helping riders feel more empowered and in control of their lives. I know for me, the more I have worked on my courage riding, the more confident and the better I feel in all areas of my life.
4. Horseback riding fosters a sense of connection and companionship, both with the horse and with fellow riders. The bond formed between rider and horse is based on trust, mutual respect, and nonverbal communication, providing a unique form of emotional support and companionship. Riding in a group setting also fosters a sense of camaraderie and belonging, allowing riders to connect with others who share their passion for horses and the outdoors. My communication with my husband has improved with my improved communications with my horses. I understand so much more about two way communication and more important, listening!
Overall, the psychological benefits of horseback riding are numerous and far-reaching. Whether it's reducing stress and anxiety, boosting confidence and self-esteem, or fostering connections with others, horseback riding offers a holistic approach to mental well-being that enriches the lives of riders of all ages and abilities.
If you are looking for a great support community, join our group on fear and courage riding. We can help you with your fear or you can cheer us on as we gain our courage! Join Here!
