Perspective

I feel one of the saddest states of being is when we stop seeking and become rigid in our belief patterns. The number of things I don't know or haven't viewed in a different way far exceeds the things I do know...and even those things I'm unsure if I can call them an absolute fact, as I try to remain open to the possibility of a new vantage point. When we close ourselves off to the perspectives, experiences and points of view of others we miss a golden opportunity to see the world again for the first time, and to have the wonderment of a child as we begin to form a relationship with that information in a way that tries to tie it to something familiar, something we know, and then we hit that moment when we realize it's completely new and has expanded our view far beyond what we thought possible. When we are rigid and stick with "that's the way we have always done it" or fall into a state of hypnotic existence where the world around us is so much a part of our routine we no longer see it. We stop giving our surroundings our conscious attention and just move through it with the expectation it was always be there as it is, unchanged. Our senses dull, and we stop looking at the wonderment of it, taking it for granted. Then, when challenged, we not only can't see it differently, but we get defensive, closed off, and refuse to take a moment to see it as someone else might. When this happens, we miss the opportunity to walk in the shoes of another, which is such an important capability when you work with people.

However, when we open to the possibility of "what if" or "I wonder..." and keep our curious mind active, so much more is possible. A depth of understanding transpires and the world shifts as if it's brand new. I absolutely love that moment of "HOLY SH*T! I never thought of it that way!" which leads you down a rabbit hole of possibilities you never considered before. What really gets me going is when it happens for the learner as well as the teacher (see my prior blog "The Teacher and The Student" for more on that topic).  I think I had just as many shifts in perspective last weekend as my attendees did, and I love that about this work. I have an addiction to learning and I'm not afraid to admit it! "Hello, my name is Sonia and I'm addicted to learning."

We are so often weighed down by the burdens of our existence that we don't stop to feel the joy of it. My horses are my passion to be sure, but the daily tasks, expenses, sweat equity and sore muscles take up the majority of my mental capacity and I rarely leave room for the wonder of it all.  What amazing creatures they are. How spiritual the experience of sharing breath with them can be. How they choose to partner with us. How patient they are with our fumbles. How powerful and awh inspiring it is when they are fully moving out with energy and grace.

It never crossed my mind until I saw her face what an exciting and life changing moment that was for her. The power of the herd. The protection they offered in the dichotomy of an underlying sense of danger. Such a strange feeling, and yet so invigorating at the same time! She was grinning from ear to ear. She was energized and it was the highlight of her visit. From fear to amazement.