Make Each Day Brighter: Live in the Question
ByI have always viewed horses to be experts in teaching humans how to be present. Horses are naturally embodied in mind, energy and spirit. They live and digest what is happening in the moment.
We humans routinely step out of the present moment and skip to the past or future with our thinking, thoughts and agendas. We routinely form opinions, points of view, judge others as right or wrong, decide what is best for others, and think we have the answers. The flow of possibility stops when we define events or categorize people, places and things. Pure consciousness does not participate in the above behaviors.
A wonderful practice to increase consciousness is living in the question (verses the answer). What does this mean? Living in the question leaves no room for judgment, assumptions, or opinions. Again, all of these stop the flow of energy. When our mind entertains possibility through questions it puts us mentally in the present moment and opens us to the magic of life, the energy keeps moving.
What if you lived as if you knew nothing? How might that change your life? Your relationships? Living in the question:
- Releases expectations
- Prevents you from judging others –which creates separation
- Limits caretaking others in an unhealthy way
- Keeps you full of energy
- Keeps your mind positive and open
- Releases the need to control (which takes a ton of energy)
- Helps you to live with more compassion and understanding
- Makes you feel happy (which rubs off on others)
What type of thoughts limited consciousness?
- I don’t have the money and it won’t come.
- He won’t support me.
- She thinks I can’t achieve my goal.
- She doesn’t know what she is doing, She is not a very good teacher/horsewoman.
- This horse is difficult.
- Kids are stupid.
- It is supposed to be done this way.
- There is something wrong with me.
- She should not do that, she should do this instead.
Read the above statements and pay attention to how each one feels in your body and spirit. Do you sense a contraction, blocking off from the world, a tightness or heaviness?
Now shift your consciousness into living in the question. Here are some options to help you explore the possibility:
- What is possible now?
- What other wonderful things can happen to me?
- What delicious experiences await me today?
- What could happen if I am willing to let go of this limiting belief?
- What if I released all of the past and present expectation of this person/horse?
- How much better can my life get?
- How can I see this with curiosity?
- What wants to happen?
- What’s perfect about me?
As you say each of these sentences feel into your body and explore what happens to the inside of your being. Do you feel lighter, more relaxed, does a feeling of calm trust come through? What shift in consciousness are you experiencing between the two lists?
What I have continually discovered in training my horses and doing the EFLC work is that when I live in the question verses the opinion, answer, prediction, or judgment my horse moves with me with more ease and our energetic connection is more congruent. The reason is that I am riding from my expanded heart verses my over-analytical thinking head. This does not exclude the possibility of reaching goals or being a strong leader. In fact it only enhances it. Those who truly succeed have the ability to find the potential and possibility in any situation thus keeping the energy moving forward.
What is your current struggle in life, relationships, career or achieving your goals, etc?
What might be possible for you if you shifted your conscious and unconscious thought patterns to questions based in possibility?
Don’t try to answer the questions—simply ask and live in it!
Gratitude
The last program of the season—The Wild Women Retreat- was a perfect ending to 2010. A wonderful group of women enjoyed the clean desert air, abundant cactus life, and many wonderful horses at the Wild Women Retreat. Each received insights about their life path and growth in their relationship and riding with horses. Plus we had tons of fun. Next year’s retreat is already scheduled. Check out the testimonials and pictures.
Be sure to check out our new Instructors Page. I am thrilled and humbled by this wonderful listing of EFLC facilitators!
I feel deep gratitude for what I have been privileged to experience in the year 2010. Thank you to everyone who came to workshops, members of the Wild Herd, program hosts, and last but certainly not least….. thank you to all of the magnificent horses who have blessed us with their teaching.
Click here for a good Christmas Giggle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo
(Photo right – Inkie gets a pink sweater for Christmas.)
2011 Calendar
We hope to have all of our workshop offerings posted by January 15th. Please be sure to check our Program Page for program descriptions. We have some new ones listed.
To see times and dates visit the Calendar page!
Merry Christmas Everyone and blessings to you and your loved ones.
Kathy and Inkie
