5 Things My Animals Have Taught Me About Patience
Our animals have a way of showing us parts of ourselves that we did not know, or have tried to suppress.
They bring out our raw, authentic selves, often because it is impossible to lie to an animal. With this can come emotional baggage, as oftentimes the things they show us are not necessarily the most flattering (or so I’ve found!).
However, these reflections are not always bad things, as they allow us to examine parts of ourselves and find ways of addressing them and moving forward.
Just as we push our horses forward to find the best versions of ourselves, so too must we move forward in our growth.
One thing I have found out about myself is that I have a very short fuse. Anger is not an emotion that I enjoy, and one I work rather hard to avoid.
However, when it comes to my animals, and more specifically my dog, I lose my temper very quickly.
This is NOT a trait that goes well when working with animals, so it’s something that I have to work very actively to combat.
With all that being said, here are some of my top tips for managing your patience.
Lesson #1 - Breath Work Is Paramount
I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but moving through these times with intentional breathing can create huge changes. Not only in ourselves but also in our animals.
Next time you are riding or interacting with your horse watch how their energy levels can be affected by your own breathing work. Inhaling creates energy, the pause, the suspension, while exhaling can release it.
There are many ways of using this, and you can manipulate your own breath to concede with your energy in a variety of ways.
But more importantly, breathing allows you to regulate your own emotions, and come back to the present moment.
Lesson #2 - Be aware of the 4 Questions.
This idea is something that was introduced to me by Warwick Schiller’s amazing podcast, Journey On.
He interviewed a woman named Beth Anstandig, who clarified so easily 4 questions we all must ask ourselves.
1) What is going on with me?
2) What is going on with you?
3) What is going on with us?
4) What is going on around us?
These 4 questions are game-changers in terms of our awareness and how we conduct our relationships.
Lesson #3 - Do Less!
Breaking things down into smaller approximations is a crucial part of avoiding frustration and burnout.
Our animals benefit from clearer communication and easily executed steps, and we remove the high expectations that often lead to frustration and doubt.
Lesson #4 - Think Big Picture
An important question I have learned to ask is “what is the benefit of this exercise/behavior in the BIG picture?”
By this I mean- is it actually beneficial to my horse’s well-being, and if so, how quickly do they really need to do it?
A good example might be training for needles. It is important that my horses be able to receive shots and blood work as part of routine health care. However, it is not IMMEDIATELY necessary, in that they do not need to be sedated or otherwise injected at this moment.
Therefore I can take the time to train this skill, at a pace that feels comfortable for them.
The flip side of this question are the things we train because we want to or because we are “used” to them. This could be a blog post in and of itself, but it’s a good question to meditate on.
Lesson #5 - Pay Attention To Your Emotions
Prey animals do not stay alive by tuning out the emotions of the other members of their herd.
When we operate in their space we enter into their emotional space, and our energy becomes a part of their world.
So when our horses “act up”, “misbehave”, etc… whatever we perceive to be a problem that causes our emotions to change, this will also affect THEIR emotional state. Which can then turn into a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So there you have it! 5 things I am currently learning from my animals about patience and training. I hope this helps.