Articles - Page 6 of 20 - Stand InBalance

11 Tips for Finding Focus

Attention is the most powerful tool of the human spirit.” – Linda Stone

Where IS your focus? Often we aren’t even aware of what we are focusing on, if we are focused on anything at all. Have you ever noticed that your attention is on so many different things at the same time that you are simply NOT focused? Being focused is a choice — we have to choose where we want to put our attention to accomplish a specific task or endeavor. However, sometimes, even when (or especially when) we are trying to focus on something specific, we find ourselves struggling to stay on point.

When we are focused it can feel like magic. Things seem to flow much easier. We are clear, aware, awake, alive! Everything clicks […]

Horse Wisdom – Focus

Horses are masters at focus, as prey animals, their lives depend on it. Their instincts are very keen about where they are directing their focus and intention. Sometimes it’s about finding water or food. Sometimes it’s about sensing danger or fleeing from it. Whatever their focus may be, you can bet that once they’ve chosen it, their actions and intentions are aligned. They don’t waste energy thinking or over-analyzing a situation. They are present. They aren’t attempting to do too many things at once, just the most important: “What is my goal?” and “What is happening right now around me.” There’s no room for excess thought or action.

When intensely focused on something, horses also remain aware of their environment, for safety reasons. In contrast, once we […]

Horse Wisdom – Keeping it Simple

One of the things we love about working with Equines is that they consistently remind us humans to keep things simple! They help us get out of our busy minds and into the present moment.

In a recent round pen session, John* was struggling to make a connection with one of our more challenging horses. John entered the round pen stating that he “was going to figure out how to connect!” This bold declaration was an indication that John was already coming into the situation stuck in his thoughts and attached to his expectations, complicating the relationship before it even had a chance to begin.

In response to this, the horse vehemently objected to John’s attempts to touch him. As he continued to try to solve “the problem”, John became more […]

7 Ways to Simplify

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

– Hans Hofmann

When we think of simplifying our lives, our first thought usually goes to our closets, our cupboards or our bookshelves. We’ve heard it time and time again: simplify, declutter, get rid of things you don’t need and you’ll have more freedom, be happier and more effective. While simplifying our physical world can help create a sense of ease and space, simplicity can be applied to much more than just our possessions.

The definition of simplicity is “the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.” Simple, isn’t it? Simplicity simply means easy, non-complex.

With the continual barrage of information and options we are presented with day to day it’s easy to get overwhelmed, take on more than […]

9 Roads to Receptivity. How to be receptive and why it’s good for us.

“Through openness and receptivity on the part of human consciousness, spirit is allow to infuse our lives, to give them meaning and direction.” – Marianne Williamson

What is Receptivity and why is it good for us?

Receptivity is a state of mind and consciousness. When we are receptive we are open, aware, awake and actively receiving what life has to offer us. We are in flow, we are in balance. We are both open and focused, surrendered and engaged.

Without receptivity, we often feel stuck and frustrated or even hopeless, anxious or overwhelmed. We tend to align ourselves with lack – the idea that there isn’t enough, there isn’t a way, not enough time, not enough money, not enough of whatever it is you think you need. “No” seems to be […]

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