Before I started my journey with horses I never understood what it was like to be present. I lived in the here and now, so surely I was present. What horses have taught me is that often I live in my own world, detached from reality. The world where I think more about the past and the future than what is happening here and now. The result was that often I failed to observe what was happening around me as I was so caught up in my own stuff. This is one of the reasons that I decided to study to become a field guide in Africa. Living for months in the bush surrounded by the wild animals, you need to have your wits about you and stay really focused on what is happening now, in the present, or else you might become someone’s lunch!
Over time I have learnt that just like the wild animals in Africa horses are experts in teaching humans how to be present. Horses are naturally embodied in mind, energy and spirit. They live and digest what is happening in the moment. By contrast we humans routinely step out of the present moment and skip to the past or future with our thinking, thoughts and agendas. We routinely form opinions, points of view, judge others as right or wrong, decide what is best for others, and think we have the answers. The flow of possibility stops when we define events or categorize people, places and things. Pure consciousness does not participate in the above behaviors.
A wonderful practice to increase consciousness is living in the question (versus the answer). What does this mean? Living in the question leaves no room for judgment, assumptions, or opinions. Again, all of these do is stop the flow of energy. When our mind entertains possibility through questions it puts us mentally in the present moment and opens us to the magic of life, the energy keeps moving.
What if you lived as if you knew nothing? How might that change your life? Your relationships? Living in the question:
- Releases expectations
- Prevents you from judging others –which creates separation
- Limits caretaking others in an unhealthy way
- Keeps you full of energy
- Keeps your mind positive and open
- Releases the need to control (which takes a ton of energy)
- Helps you to live with more compassion and understanding
- Makes you feel happy (which rubs off on others)
What type of thoughts limited consciousness?
- I don’t have the money and it won’t come.
- He won’t support me.
- She thinks I can’t achieve my goal.
- She doesn’t know what she is doing, She is not a very good teacher/horsewoman.
- This horse is difficult.
- Kids are stupid.
- It is supposed to be done this way.
- There is something wrong with me.
- She should not do that, she should do this instead.
Read the above statements and pay attention to how each one feels in your body and spirit. Do you sense a contraction, blocking off from the world, a tightness or heaviness?
Now shift your consciousness into living in the question. Here are some options to help you explore the possibility:
- What is possible now?
- What other wonderful things can happen to me?
- What delicious experiences await me today?
- What could happen if I am willing to let go of this limiting belief?
- What if I released all of the past and present expectation of this person/horse?
- How much better can my life get?
- How can I see this with curiosity?
- What wants to happen?
- What’s perfect about me?
As you say each of these sentences feel into your body and explore what happens to the inside of your being. Do you feel lighter, more relaxed, does a feeling of calm trust come through? What shift in consciousness are you experiencing between the two lists?
What I have continually discovered is that when I am working with horses in I live in the present. Horses help me get grounded and connected to all that is around me. So how do horses do this? Well, as a prey animal a horse is always looking for a leader. If he can’t find one he will assume the role himself. Who would want to follow a leader who was not present and aware of what was happening around them? No-one, because in the case of my horse he thinks he might get eaten alive.
So today’s question is are you living in the here and now or are you living in the past and future? What type of leader do you think you can be for you teams if you are not aware of what is happening around you.? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
