Lately, several of my 1:1 coaching calls have been about "big moments." Big moments or big events tend to come with a LOT of emotional baggage and added pressure. Examples include sitting at 19 (IYKYK), national events and specialties, the first trial after a long rehab, and even the most...
Mental stamina is on my mind. I just finished my week-long national specialty in Sacramento, plus the two cross-country (mostly) solo drives. It was a three-week journey that required a LOT of mental stamina.
At every juncture, how can we expect to perform well in our next event if we're too...
Anyone else wish they had better habits?
At some point, we all want to create a new habit or break an old one that no longer serves. And no matter how much we want to change, habits are hard, even when we want to dismantle one!
First, cut yourself some slack. According to studies, most people...
Everyone feels at least something before they walk into the ring. Ring nerves are a continuum from chill and relaxed to absolute panic. And sometimes, we misread our excitement for performance anxiety which can trip us up and create nerves that weren't initially there.
Basically, ring nerves and...
This week as many of my friends head west to Tulsa for the agility National, I can't help but feel a bit jealous. Mind you, I didn't try to qualify, I just wish I were going - haha.
Watching someone else achieve something you also want can trigger all sorts of feelings. Are you wildly happy for...
Ever had a tough time getting over something that happened in the ring (or even at a trial)? Silly question, of course you have.
The thing is, we've all had issues letting go of mistakes, bad runs, or some other letdown. And one reason some mistakes feel stickier than others is that we really...
Elite athletes talk a LOT about "the zone."
"I was just really in the zone today."
"Everything was just flowing for me."
But what in the h-e-double-toothpicks is this "zone?" And what does it feel like to be "in flow?"
Performing "in the zone" refers to a state of optimal performance where we are...
My back is killing me. It's day two, and I have zero patience for it.
I'm doing a nine-week workout program, and this girl likes to stay "caught up." I carefully pushed through yesterday, but today I popped a muscle relaxer, slathered on magnesium, and put on comfy clothes instead.
This is what...
The idea of “manifesting” is hardly new - some people think it’s crap and others swear by it. No matter where you fall on this continuum, you’re right, of course. Me? I’m firmly in the manifesting camp but I don’t believe you can simply wish something into...
Anyone else glued to the Olympics?
As a kid, time stopped for the two weeks of the spectacle, and I watched whatever they showed on network TV, paying particular attention to the equestrian events (obvi!). I remember where I was when we heard “the team” won in ‘84, and I know...
I’ve been considering the concept of pressure a lot lately - mostly because I am finishing up a Masterclass offering on the subject and using the Q-Members as my test subjects - lucky them!
I think what’s interesting about pressure is that it’s not a skill per se, but something...
As more of us are emerging post-pandemic, we are finding a new test for our resilience. I hear so many people saying, “When things go back to normal.” I gotta admit, that sentence is KILLING me! (metaphorically, obvi).
Here’s my breakdown of that sentence:
When - waiting on the...
