When anxiety hits, it feels urgent.
Your chest tightens. Your mind races. You just want it to stop—now.
Your chest tightens. Your mind races. You just want it to stop—now.
And while I wish I could give you a magic “off switch,” the truth is… anxiety didn’t form in an instant.
It built itself over time—through experiences, habits, thoughts, and patterns you may not even remember.
It built itself over time—through experiences, habits, thoughts, and patterns you may not even remember.
So expecting it to dissolve in an instant?
That’s a heavy ask for your nervous system.
That’s a heavy ask for your nervous system.
But here’s the good news: there are ways to get immediate help.
Not the kind that erases anxiety forever, but the kind that interrupts the cycle just enough to give you space.
To breathe.
To choose something different.
Not the kind that erases anxiety forever, but the kind that interrupts the cycle just enough to give you space.
To breathe.
To choose something different.
Ferris Wheel Breathing
Yep—like the carnival ride.
Here’s how it works:
- Close your eyes (or soften your gaze).
- As you inhale, imagine your breath slowly rising up one side of the Ferris wheel.
- At the top, pause—like you’re taking in the view.
- As you exhale, your breath comes gently down the other side.
- At the bottom, pause again—safe and grounded—before starting the next circle.
Breathe in — ride up.
Pause — enjoy the view.
Breathe out — ride down.
Pause — feel the earth.
Pause — enjoy the view.
Breathe out — ride down.
Pause — feel the earth.
You’re not just visualizing.
You’re re-training your nervous system to connect breath + safety + rhythm.
You’re creating motion inside the stillness.
You’re re-training your nervous system to connect breath + safety + rhythm.
You’re creating motion inside the stillness.
And guess what?
Even just one loop can shift something.
That’s a win.
Even just one loop can shift something.
That’s a win.
Don’t Wait for the Panic — Build Confidence Before You Need It
Ferris Wheel Breathing and visualization work beautifully in the moment—but what if we didn’t wait for the panic to hit?
What if, instead of scrambling for tools in the middle of a meltdown, you already had a strong foundation built?
That’s the difference between coping and preparing.
When you intentionally build confidence—through mental rehearsal, mindset work, and nervous system resets—you start riding into situations with resilience already on board.
You’re not starting at zero.
You’re not hoping you can manage it.
You’ve trained for this.
You’re not hoping you can manage it.
You’ve trained for this.
How Do You Build That Kind of Confidence?
This is where deeper tools come in—like hypnotherapy, NLP, and structured courage coaching.
These tools don’t just patch over the fear.
They reset the brain and body to feel safe again.
They help you create a calm baseline before the ride, before the challenge, before your fear takes the wheel.
They reset the brain and body to feel safe again.
They help you create a calm baseline before the ride, before the challenge, before your fear takes the wheel.
Think of it as mental conditioning for your nervous system.
Just like physical training prepares your muscles, this prepares your mind.
Just like physical training prepares your muscles, this prepares your mind.
And when anxiety does show up?
You’re not fighting it from the ground up—you’re meeting it from a place of strength.
You’re not fighting it from the ground up—you’re meeting it from a place of strength.
Find out how to get ahead of your anxiety with a free Calm-Ride Strategy Call.
When the fear took hold after my accident, I felt so lost and alone. Nobody understood my fear—especially me.
I had always been the fearless kid.
The courageous one getting all of us into trouble.
The one who rode alone in the Angeles National Forest before school.
The courageous one getting all of us into trouble.
The one who rode alone in the Angeles National Forest before school.
So how could this fear have come over me?
And more importantly—why was it holding me hostage?
And more importantly—why was it holding me hostage?
Could I get my courage back?
And if so, how?
And if so, how?
These are the questions we ask ourselves when we’re sitting alone with our fear.
Our friends tell us to “just get on and ride.”
Or worse: “Show that horse who’s boss.”
Or worse: “Show that horse who’s boss.”
But it’s not that simple.
Because fear rewires the nervous system. It can strip away confidence that once came so naturally. And when that happens, we begin to wonder if we’ll ever feel brave again.
Here’s what I want you to know:
Even in our deepest fear, we can learn courage.
We can turn back the clock and reclaim the confidence that feels so far away.
We can turn back the clock and reclaim the confidence that feels so far away.
Maybe our courage was genetic at first. But once it’s been shaken—or taken—we absolutely can rebuild it.
So how do we get it back?
Step One: Make the decision to get it back.
This might sound too simple, but it’s the key.
When you decide—really decide—that you’re ready to reclaim your courage, doors begin to open. The right people, tools, and solutions start showing up.
This might sound too simple, but it’s the key.
When you decide—really decide—that you’re ready to reclaim your courage, doors begin to open. The right people, tools, and solutions start showing up.
Step Two: Make the plan.
How will you get it back?
For me, it was a long road: preparation, knowledge, experience, therapy.
But there are faster ways too—like a reset hypnotherapy session or a tailored NLP session to help your mind and body recalibrate after an accident.
How will you get it back?
For me, it was a long road: preparation, knowledge, experience, therapy.
But there are faster ways too—like a reset hypnotherapy session or a tailored NLP session to help your mind and body recalibrate after an accident.
Step Three: Take the first step—and keep going.
This one is critical. Courage grows with momentum.
The more you move, the more confidence you build.
The more confidence you build, the more freedom you feel.
This one is critical. Courage grows with momentum.
The more you move, the more confidence you build.
The more confidence you build, the more freedom you feel.
You can do this.
You don’t have to stay stuck.
You don’t have to stay afraid.
These three steps are how I found my way back into the saddle—and they can help you do the same.
If you're ready to take that first step, let's talk. Book a free Calm-Ride Strategy Call and let’s start building your personalized courage comeback.
Overcoming fear over the past twenty years has taught me so much. Looking back, every moment of hesitation was worth the courage it took to push through. The journey was worth the sixty seconds of terror from the horse flipping over on top of me. What I realized is that the process I used is very similar to the process for accomplishing almost anything new or challenging. We all have things we would like different in our lives but just don't know who to begin and what to do. AT a high level, we figure out what steps need to be taken, we plan how to accomplish those steps, and then we implement those steps.
I believe we can all overcome our anxiety and fear if we make that our decision.
Here is a simple process that I used:
evaluate your health (You can do the same for your horses as well):
Set aside some time and sit down with a paper, journal, or some way to take notes. Scan your body and write down what is healthy, what is declining, what is improving, and what needs to be improved. Once you have that list from your scan, prioritize the list for action and commit to yourself to start feeling better now. Don't forget your mindset as well!
Gain knowledge:
Take some time and figure out what knowledge you have and what knowledge you need to accomplish your goal. I was all cocky when I did this part and thought I knew it all but did I? When I really sat down and did this, there were so many things I didn't know, even simple things like how to teach a horse to stand quiet and relaxed at the mounting block for me to get on. Seems simple but I had never trained a horse to do that. It was eye-opening to see how many things I didn't know I needed to know. I had a long list of knowledge that I needed to gain. I would love to hear how it goes with your list. What were your top 2 or 3 priorities on gaining knowledge for you.
Experience it:
Once you have gained the knowledge to at least take the first few steps, do the steps. Don't wait until you have gained all the knowledge and gotten healthy, start now and take small steps toward your destination. Those small steps will give you momentum and courage to continue on with your journey to confidence and courage. You have to do, not just think about doing. DO!
ADJUST:
As you start doing, you will find that you need to make adjustments. These can come in many forms. Adjust your health a little more. Learn a skill you hadn't thought of. It can be just about anything to help you stay on your journey and keep moving towards feeling that confident courageous self you know is inside of you.
Your process has already been created for you! Rise from Fear to Courage: Saddle Up and Enjoy Riding Again shares my journey of overcoming fear and reclaiming the joy of riding. If you're ready to ride with confidence, this book will show you the way. Grab your copy today and take the first step toward fearless riding!
I took twenty long years to go from my accident to my destination, getting my courage back. Along the way, there were many bumps in the road but looking back at the road, I can see the journey and how it could be streamlined. Here are the major milestones on a journey into courage after an accident.
MILESTONES:
1️⃣ Reframe the Fear: Shift your perspective — fear isn’t the enemy, it’s a signal. Learn to listen without letting it control you.
2️⃣ Focus on the Mindset: Build a strong mental foundation with positive self-talk, visualization, and daily affirmations.
3️⃣ Have the Physical Health Ready: Make sure your body feels strong and supported — physical readiness boosts confidence.
4️⃣ Gain the Knowledge: Understand what you’re doing, why, and how to handle challenges — knowledge quiets anxiety.
5️⃣ Take the First Step: Action builds momentum. Start small and don't stop — courage grows with each step forward.
6️⃣ Enjoy Your Courage: Celebrate your progress and savor the feeling of showing up for yourself — this is where confidence thrives.
Do you want to overcome anxiety with a little extra
help? Let’s explore breaking free from anxiety and stepping into calm.
Book your free chat now and take the first step toward finding your calm. I have helped clients with both courage
coaching and hypnotherapy to overcome their anxiety and enjoy life again.
After my accident, I unknowingly spent 20 years living in my own comfort zone. During this time, I avoided trail riding and hacking out with my horses, things I once loved. When I did the math, it shocked me—those 20 years equaled 7,300 opportunities I missed to trail ride. We all have that line, the edge that we struggle to cross, maybe it is mounting, trail riding, cantering, or even in some cases, leading your horse. There is a point, the edge of the comfort zone, that we go from confidence to anxiety or even fear.
Think of your home. It’s your sanctuary, a place where you feel safe and protected from the chaos of the world. Your home is where you rest, recharge, and feel secure. In many ways, your comfort zone is like a subconscious "home" you create for yourself. It’s the mental space where you feel emotionally and physically safe, free from risk, uncertainty, and fear. But just like any home, staying within your comfort zone can eventually limit your experiences and growth.
Our comfort zones are designed to keep us safe from perceived threats—whether emotional, physical, or psychological. They offer a sense of security and stability, much like the four walls of a home. However, staying in that bubble for too long can prevent us from venturing out into the world. It can keep us from embracing new opportunities, trying new things, and facing our fears. There isn't anything wrong with this and each person has to decide if and when they cross the edge of their comfort zone.
The problem with living in a constant state of safety is that life outside the comfort zone is where growth happens. It’s in those moments of discomfort—when we step outside our bubble—that we learn, build resilience, and discover new strengths.
When I finally realized how much time I had lost to fear, I knew I had to push myself beyond the bubble. It wasn’t easy, but every step outside of my comfort zone brought me closer to rediscovering the joy of riding and living fully.
If you’re stuck in your own comfort zone, it’s time to start earning those Courage Pennies. The first step is always the hardest, but with each small victory, you’ll feel more empowered. To help you get started on your journey, I’m offering a free eBook, The Ultimate Guide to Courage Pennies. Inside, you’ll find simple yet powerful steps to help you build courage and move beyond your comfort zone.
Don’t wait another 7,300 opportunities. Take the first step toward living a fuller, braver life today.
