"Joy is not in things, it is in us"

Hello and happy new financial year!

I trust some of you (especially the ladies) were able to secure quite a few good purchases during the last few weeks with "end of financial year" sales going mad everywhere!

I was pretty good this time, the reason being that I have just received, and made the final payment, for my long awaited new Dressage boots! Awww and they are so fabulous! However as every Dressage rider knows, it is not such a pleasure getting them "broken in". It's almost like I had this fantasy about how good my riding would get, when I finally got my new boots - and now (at least the first couple of rides) it's gotten worse instead.

Have you ever had that when you buy something for yourself or your horse and you thought "now everything will change for good!" and then you realized it actually didn't?

As Richard Wagner says: "Joy is not in things, it is in us"

When we hope for change or improvement coming from something (or someone) external to us, we set ourselves up for frustration and failure. Something external to us cannot "fix" something that comes from within us,... our thoughts, our beliefs, our self talk, our self-image. Yes, a new saddle might solve a horses back problem, but when the rider still sits on the horse with the same tension and anxiety, well guess what the horse will be representing?! And how long exactly will the positive effect of the new fitting saddle benefit the horse?

There is one universal truth, that we must create change inside us first to change our outside world. If you were super rich and could buy anything you'd ever dreamed of... I promise you, your problems would still be the same, just on a higher level. If you are worried about money now, you'd still be worried about money. Instead of worrying about the lack of it you might be concerned about who wants to get your money ( tax, family, charity, kids,...). Or you might be spending more as well again, worrying about how long your money will last.

A survey evaluating the happiness of lottery winners shows that most lottery winners are less happy after winning the lottery than they were before their win!

Amazing, isn't it?! So what does that tell you??

The change, the joy, appreciation, love, confidence or courage is in the things we have, but within us. And it is already within us right now! You might not be aware of it, yet, but only when you allow it to grow and manifest itself within you can your results change and your outside world represent your truth.

A friend recently moved her horse to a new stable and she told me that the horse has changed phenomenally since the move; he is motivated, working fantastically and is looking healthy and fit. Yes, it could be the different feed or arena surface creating this shift...but maybe it could also be how calm and relaxed my friend feels at the new barn. How happy she is about the move and therefore the atmosphere she is now creating for her horse to not only during their rides, but also in the stable when grooming him and just being around him.

Of course I cannot point my finger on the specific reason for the shift in her horses behaviour, but I do wonder if it was really the environment change or her attitude change?

I really invite you to take an honest look inside this month, taking stock of what is already within you waiting to be activated. There is nothing to be fixed, you are whole already as you are now. Stop the search outside for things you "need" at least for the next month and focus on utilizing your natural assets. Seriously, your finances and your horse will thank you.

Have a fabulous month!

Anna


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Pictured: Rozzie Ryan and Jive Magic as featured in the Inspirational Australian Dressage Calender
Photo by Peter Stoop