When Michelle* first came to Stand InBalance, at age 32, she had been working in sales for 5 years and wanted to transition into product development. She often had great ideas but would go blank and lose her center whenever she tried to develop her ideas and share them with others. When Michelle entered the arena, she was very stiff and unsure how to connect with the horse she chose. She became so constricted by trying to do what she thought was “right” that she was unable to trust her instincts, listen to her inner knowledge or follow through with her own ideas. The more she doubted herself, the more agitated and less cooperative the horse became. After taking a break & checking in with herself, Michelle realized that she was still inhibited by adolescent experiences of being shamed for her ideas. As she shared this realization, Michelle’s chosen horse walked up and stood next to her.
The Power of Perspective – 9 steps to harness it.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” —Albert Einstein
You know what they say, perspective is everything, but I suppose that depends on how you look at it! What’s certain is that there is great power in perspective.
Shifting our perspective not only changes the way we think; it can also change the way we feel and act. Having the ability to recognize, shift and change our vantage point gives us a liberating amount of control over the way we react to situations. Understanding and being able to access our perspective opens us up to more possibilities in all situations and therefore more possibility in life.
Horse Wisdom – Seeing things differently
Alex (25), had recently moved back into her family home after being away at college and was having a hard time adjusting to living with her parents after getting used to “doing her own thing”. Her biggest challenge was how difficult it was to be around her father. Early on in her sessions at Stand InBalance, Alex identified one of the horses as being just like her father: “a mean, self-centered bully.” She often wanted to connect with this horse but ended up being tense and angry around him. She stated, “I cannot accomplish anything with that horse, I’m sick of him!”
After a few weeks, the therapist asked Alex to pause and observe the horses in the arena. She encouraged her to center herself in the […]
Find your Heart, Find your Wisdom. A Guide to being Heart Centered.
“There is an ocean of infinite wisdom in you. Put your hand on your heart and feel it beating.” – Jennifer Williamson
Sometimes changes happen in our life that we don’t expect and we have no choice but to shift the direction that we were headed. The pandemic is a great example of how circumstances can create a break in our “normal” lives and we are forced to slow down and take a beat. Big shifts like the death of a loved one, a change in employment or relationship status or an illness, can throw us for a loop, slowing down our usual pace of “progress” and forward motion. Times like these can be frightening, but they can also be an opportunity. An opportunity to embrace the slower […]
Horse Wisdom – Wise Heart, Wise Mind.
When we are able to activate our minds to notice and acknowledge our thoughts and feelings in the present moment, rather disconnecting from them or reactively letting thoughts and feelings control our behavior, we are operating from a “wise mind”*.
A “wise mind” state enables us to tune into our intuition; to hear our inner voice and use broader insight to see the larger picture in play.
Our work with Angelika** demonstrates how connecting to and becoming centered in our hearts can help us access our “wise mind” and act accordingly. When she came to Stand InBalance, Angelika was was struggling with isolation and motivation in her life. She suffered from a deep phobia which often confined her to her room. Once there, she felt safe […]