Sometimes it takes a big slice of humble pie before a person will acknowledge their lack of knowledge. For some it is truly hard to accept and admit where they're at on their journey. Our society teaches us to conform and we spend a lifetime trying to be just like the person we're told we should emulate. So we buy brand-named clothes and wear what's in style and speak the current lingo. We are considered weird when we don't conform...
So it stands to reason that it's hard for most people to accept themselves just as they are.
So only the people who learn to be honest with themselves can truly learn from the horse. The horse will always be honest. He will always express himself. He will always be your mirror. But if your eyes are closed you will never see what they are reflecting - you will never be able to learn.
Like any behavior in life, the road to self acceptance, humbleness, and inner honesty take PRACTICE. You have to apply it to every situation. You have to use every circumstance as opportunities to practice these qualities. The more you practice, the more developed that quality will be.
I used to use force with horses. I could get just about any horse to bow to my will. So when I made the conscious choice to change that in myself, it was not easy. Every single interaction with horses had to be used as a learning opportunity. A chance to practice letting go of the frustration and ego, giving up my agenda. There were times when it felt like I took ten giant steps backward (usually a donkey would push my buttons, revealing the old habits just below the shiny new surface). It seemed I would improve by the tiniest increments - it was easy for me to overlook any progress I had made because the improvements were at times microscopic to my eye. Letting go of ego was the hardest part of it all. So many of my patterns were wrapped up in ego. And my awareness of what behaviors were egotistical at their core came slowly. Even my perception of leadership was twisted with dominance.
Letting go of these patterns -- essentially everything I did -- was exhausting. I experienced a sense of loss as these old habits vanished, even though those habits were negative and unhealthy. I was losing parts of myself that were familiar.
But as I replaced the old habits of force and make and allowed my ego to shrivel and wither, I felt lighter in my spirit and happier with every growing positive encounter with my horses. The successes finally did come and fueled my desire to continue to grow in this new method of love, compassion, understanding, and benevolent leadership.
The most important concept I have learned so far on my personal journey has been this: love is key. Without love nothing is possible. Without an understanding of what love is, you're lost. Every behavior we express comes from an instinctual place of survival. All of our issues stem from keeping yourself safe. Know-it-alls, mean people, brown-nosers, to name a few, are driven to those behaviors out of safety and comfort. They've been hurt or broken somewhere along their path and have developed mechanisms to cope and keep themself safe from further pain. They seriously lack love -- from others and for themselves.
A horse will reflect who you are at any given moment. If you want to see yourself in all honesty, interact with a horse. They are an extremely special and unique creature here for that very purpose. I have no doubt this is the truth.
If you're ready, come along for the ride.
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