G is for Growth - Look Both Ways: A Deeper Dive into Personal Growth

Look Both Ways: A Deeper Dive into Personal Growth 

By: Sarah A Koch - Form Through Function Equine Development

 

It’s that time of year when we reflect back on the past 6-12 months  as we plan our year ahead. Many of us begin to set goals for the future. If you are like me, you are great at having a grand vision but get discouraged when you’ve set a goal, listed the necessary steps in order, and hit a road block part way through. Or perhaps, like me,  you begin working towards a goal only to realize it was a little premature. I have overcome these setbacks by a change in mindset and habits. Rather than set rigid goals with a series of steps to be taken in order, I prefer to focus on personal growth destinations along life’s journey. Today I am going to share how I lay out a destination road map that allows several paths to success. For access to tools that will help you set, track, and reach your destination click here: https://formthroughfunctionequine.com/collections/educational-content

 

Before determining your destination(s), it helps to use some self discovery tools that will aid you in this endeavor. The first thing I do is review and edit my Mental Download. This is an exercise where you choose a subject, in this case horses, and put down any and everything that comes to mind. No judgment or holding back, if you think it, write it down. Once you have this you can review and edit periodically. This can be hand written or digital. I used a note taking app on my phone so that it is always available and it allows me to separate thoughts into categories, add & subtract with ease, and include photos, videos, quotes,  and memes. I review and edit this at least once a year. During this process, things will come up that you didn’t realize or had not been able to articulate in the past. You may think of some self discovery questions as well. Bringing out more in-depth thoughts & ideas will guide you in creating a more meaningful target destination and prepare you for the next exercise. 

 

Self Discovery questions are things that we don’t consciously think about or address but are integral to our identity. They give us a deeper understanding of our core values, attributes, and opportunities. As well they can awaken our awareness of why we are the way we are. Understanding this will shape your vision of where & who you want to be on the future. Some good questions to ask yourself are:

 

Why did I get involved with horses?

Why am I involved with horses now?

What do I get out of it?

What does my horse get out of it?

 

Now that you’ve started a mental download and answered some self discovery questions, it’s time to reflect on the last year (or timeframe of your choice) record what you are most pleased about and what you wish had gone differently. Ask yourself why you feel the way you do about each item in both categories. Next, record where you are at right now and how you feel about it? Are you farther along than you thought or still far away from where you thought you would be? Why do you think you are in this current position?

 

Once all that is out of the way, it is time to choose your target destination(s) . These should be simple yet specific, and relevant to your current level of horsemanship and/or your horses ability. While it is ok, to attach a time frame to these, it is important to remember you are depending on and working with a living creature who has their own preferences & difficulties. This increased level of variables means you will likely need to extend your deadline. If you have setbacks or have to adjust your plans, that is ok. Take a deep breath and look at your map for an alternate route. Sometimes this may mean back tracking a bit as well. 

 

Once I have determined where I want to go, I create a mind map. You can hand draw this or use a template. There are some available on my website (link in opening paragraph). A mind map consists of multiple circles or other shapes large enough to write in. At the center of your page, place a circle. Then place 4 smaller circles (or the number you need) around it. From the 4 smaller circles, draw a line and draw 4+ other lines connecting to each perpendicularly. Write your target destination in the largest center circle. Now write down each element needed to achieve this goal in the circles around it (one per circle). On the connected lines, write down the milestones needed to achieve each element. This gives you a basic roadmap of what is needed to reach your destination. Like an actual map, there are many different ways to get to the same place. If you get blocked in one area, just move to another.   

 

Tacking your progress is a process that will increase your likelihood of success. I like to use a few tools to make sure I am going the right direction. They are comparison photos, videos of my work/practice, and journaling.  This can be done in individual pieces or put together in a single document that has everything. As a professional equine bodyworker, trainer, and riding instructor, I use a form of this for each of my clients in addition to my personal horses. Any time I work with a horse, I take before and after photos and put them side by side into a report that I send to my clients. 

 

To track a horses physical development there are 5 main views you should photograph. These are similar to conformation photos but not identical. 4 of these should include the hoses feet. The first view I take is each side. For these the horse should be in their preferred stance so you can see how they position their feet and hold their body when uninhibited. For the next 3 you should have the horse as square as possible as we are looking at symmetry in these. They are the Chest including the shoulders and front legs down to the hooves, the hind end, and the spine from above and behind. You should be able to see the top of the tail and beyond the ears to have the whole topline in view. Have the neck as straight as possible as well to not distort this view. More details including rider posture photo instructions with example photos here: 

 

Next is video, I like to video as many sessions weather performing bodywork, training, or teaching as I can. I do not always have the ability to do it so I try to get one of each at least once a month. It is amazing what I notice when I watch myself! I see so many ways I can improve the next time. If you have an auto-follow camera or someone to help you that is best, however, if not you can make due with just a tripod or by propping your phone/camera up on something. Even if you do not like watching yourself, it is important you do this. Nothing makes you realize just how much you need to improve or how well you are doing like seeing it for yourself from a third party perspective. 

 

Last, but just as important is the journal. Keep a record of the things you noticed, how you felt, outside influences that may have affected your session, and any other things you want to remember. I have a couple preset templates that I use to help me stay consistent. These are specific to my areas of expertise, you can create your own to fill out or download a printable copy with a guide from my website. Some things I always include are my own observation at the beginning, the observations of those around me (for me this is usually the horses owner, but it could be your trainer etc…), my findings throughout the session, and things I decided to practice or recommend to the owner between then and the next session.    

 

So, to recap. Before deciding on something to work towards, take stock of the recent past (6-12 months), create or update your mental download, and ask & answer some self discovery questions to help you decide where and how you want to grow. Once you’ve determined your destination, use your mind map to lay out a pathway(s) that will get you there. Don’t be afraid to change direction or back track as you go. Then, hold yourself accountable by keeping a journal & taking comparison photos & videos to ensure you are on the right path. Remember, there are multiple right paths to reach your destination. Horsemanship is a never ending journey and pursuit of knowledge, connection, and understanding. Sometimes the road is bumpy and other times it is smooth, regardless of all the ups and downs we face, it is most important to enjoy the ride. ❤️