Fear is a liar.

Fear is a Liar. This has come up several times with clients over the past few months. It doesn't matter if you are staring down the alley at a fearful first barrel or standing at a horsemanship cone waiting for the nod. Fear is standing there at attention to lie to you. So let's break it down...

What are you afraid of? What fear is driving you? You need to stop and name that fear. Keep naming and naming it until the ugly truth is fully brought to light. Identify the fear and it's source. If you can put a full identity, you are ahead of the game. ​

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Now look at it in the light. Does your fear look silly? Does it look less scary? 

Are you afraid of running up the fence? Or Forgetting the pattern? Running too slow? Are you afraid of looking silly in front of your family or friends? What is your fear? 

Now did you identify where it came from? This may be just as challenging. Does your fear come from a hole in your training that you keep patching but don't address head on? Does it come from a snide remark from a "friend" or other competitor? Does it come from a feeling of unfamiliarity? Maybe you are coming back from a lay off. No matter where the fear is coming from, stop and take a deep breath. 

Identifying the fear and reasoning behind it should have given it a good throat punch, but we aren't finished yet. Now we are going to reverse engineer the defeat of fear. 

The best way to defeat fear is to be prepared. Is that hole in your training the cause? maybe we need to slow down and go back to the basics. It is ok to slow down, step back in order to move forward. 

Did you identify a toxic environment? A toxic person? Well that can get tricky but still workable. Was the comment valid but received wrong? Or did it have no validity at all? Do you need to cut that person out of your circle? Maybe you need coping strategies to deal with this person? Or do you need to have a talk? 

Are you in the middle of a comeback? Is something that was once so familiar now foreign? if so embrace it. Stop and marvel at the fact that you get to do this process again but this time you have a leg up. You've been there before. Embrace the process. Stop worrying about the outcome and focus on what is solely in your control. That is all we can ever work on no matter the identity of our fear. 

So two things to know fear down...

1. Identify the Fear and Source
2. Reverse Engineer the Solution 

Need help conquering your fear? Rider's Edge is here to help.Leave a comment about the fear that you are facing. Contact us to set an appointment today to work towards your goals.