From Moshi

I was thinking about how slippery it is out on the wet grass, and sure enough, I slipped. I was thinking about how angry that gelding at the end of my stall row makes me, and sure enough I became angry. I was thinking about how I sometimes get a headache when a storm comes, and sure enough, I got a headache.

I keep saying that what you think about expands. Over and over and in many different ways I share my belief that we attract whatever we concentrate on. And yet, I still find myself putting my own attention on things I don’t want. Why do I do that when I KNOW that’s going to create the very things I do not want? Oops, I just gave my attention to getting what I don’t want by seeing that I get what I don’t want by thinking about what I don’t want! ARG! It’s crazy making!

If I say to you, don’t think about a pink and blue zebra striped horse, what happens in your mind? Do you see a green spotted cow? Now you do, simply because I mentioned it. You’re now probably thinking about a zebra AND a cow. You can’t NOT see something you’re thinking about! The brain simply can’t see a “not.”

So how do you trick the mind into visualizing what you want, and not what’s physically in front of you?

There is a fun and powerful trick that was taught to me by my friend, Jonathan Manske. www.JonathanManske.com He calls it the “fact witch.” It goes like this.

State out-loud two or three simple things that you know and firmly believe are absolutely TRUE, and then state something you’d like to be different in your life as if it actually was true as well.

For example, if you’ve having money issues right now, you could say, “I am a brunette (blonde, redhead, whatever applies to you…), and I live in ______ (your town), and I am a MONEY MAGNET. You may not currently be experiencing yourself as someone who attracts money, but your mind will already be in the state of believing when you make the third statement, which will make it much easier for your mind to accept what you want to believe as TRUTH. And if your mind successfully holds the belief that you are a money magnet, you will attract money just like a magnet!

I am a solid black horse, I am owned by Jane Savoie, and I am a carrot magnet!

I am a solid black horse, I am owned by Jane Savoie, and I am a carrot magnet!

I am a solid black horse, I am owned by Jane Savoie, and I am a carrot magnet!

Hey! Here comes Jane down the aisle with a bag of carrots! It works!

Love, Moshi

From Indy

I’ve put on a few pounds over the holidays. When Jane wasn’t looking, some friend of her’s shared some cookies with me. I swiped a few candy canes off the barn’s Christmas tree and stole half a bag of horse treats someone had left on the floor. Now I’m feeling a bit heavy and uncomfortable. When I complained to Moshi, he suggested I try Jonathan’s “fact witch” process to see if I could get my attention on what I DO want to feel like, instead of what I’m feeling now.

So, here goes.

My name is Indy, I am a Golden Retriever, and I am healthy and fit.

My name is Indy, I am a Golden Retriever, and I am healthy and fit.
My name is Indy, I am a Golden Retriever, and I am healthy and fit.

Hummm…Yes, I can see myself in my mind as healthy and fit. To me that means I am svelte and really fast. I can visualize that in my mind. I’ll repeat this process several times a day and let you know how I feel next week!

My name is Indy, I am a Golden Retriever, and I am fit and healthy. Yep…that feels “TRUE!”

What would YOU like to have show up in your life? Make it “TRUE” in your mind, and then see what happens!

Love, Indy

From Moshi

A friend of mine in Australia wrote to me this week, expressing her excitement about learning dressage after a career on the race track. She had been a bit discouraged at her progress because she was used to being successful on the track mostly by her strong will and a strong hand. Neither are very conducive to an artful picture of riding. Once she realized that she could break dressage down into small, understandable pieces that fit together like an elegant puzzle, her sense of self-worth soared. She didn’t have to force her way into success….she could gently finesse her way to success!

The level of worthiness we feel makes a huge difference in how we live our lives. It’s true that we can never rise above, nor out perform our own self-image. So if you want to improve your life, the first order of business is to improve your view of yourself.

This is easy to say, but is much harder to do. Are you open to a suggestion? Find a couple of friends you trust and feel safe with, and ask them to write down all the things about you that they LIKE. No negatives here…just the things they LIKE about you. Then do the same about yourself. Write down all the things about you that YOU like. Read these lists three times a day for 21 days. Then watch what shows up in your life!

I like my long flowing mane and tail, my shiny black coat, and my ability to do terrific pirouettes. Jane said she is most proud of my one tempis and my strong work ethic. I’m going to concentrate on these things for the next 21 days and see what happens!

In the meantime, I’m going to help the young mare who just moved into the barn with her confidence. She’s a diamond in the rough, and I want to be there with the polish! How about you? Is there someone you could help today?

Love, Moshi

From Indy

Yesterday I went swimming with my friend Chance, when I got a mouthful of water and nearly choked! It scared me for a minute. It hurt, and I couldn’t breathe. Chance was worried too. He stayed right beside me and made sure I got out of the water okay. It was really nice of him.

Chance is one of those fellows who is always there for me. He’s a really good friend. He’s never talked bad about me, judged me when I’m having a bad day, or intentionally hurt my feelings. He’s one of those dogs that everyone feels safe with.

When I got out of the water, I thought to myself how lucky I am to have such a great friend. I realized I’d never told him that. But I really do appreciate Chance and how good he treats me. After I stopped coughing, I nuzzled him with my nose and told him that he’s a great friend. It made him smile.

Who in your life is a great friend? Are there people who make you smile, help you feel safe, or otherwise make your life better? Perhaps today is a good day to let them know how much you appreciate them. It will make you both feel good.

Love, Indy

From Moshi

Focus. It’s the most driving force in anyone’s success. Oh sure…Occasionally there are successes that just fall into your lap. But that is incredibly rare. Focus is one of those things that creates opportunity. It creates a vibration of success. The energy of the Universe aligns with your vision, and you become unstoppable.

I decided I wanted to beat Indy in a race. He’d already beat me once, so I had some history to overcome. I could have wallowed in my failure, I could have given up and just accepted that he’s the faster fellow, or I could focus on a goal and not stop until I reached it. My desire to win wasn’t about Indy at all, it was about proving that I could change my experience though my own focus and will.

So I started dreaming. That’s right…dreaming. I imagined Indy and me running the circle around my turnout with me in the lead the entire time. I imagined “that winning feeling” of joy I was going to feel when I reached the finish line first. I did the physical work of challenging myself each time I was turned out or ridden, pushing myself a little bit farther than I thought I could go, but always added the mental emotions of joy in success and winning with each workout.

And yes, the next time Indy and I raced, I was the winner! Indy was a good sport about it, but he informed me that he’s going to work on it and beat ME next time. We’ll see!

Love, Moshi

From Indy

There are a bunch of new dogs at our Florida barn this year. I met a few of them yesterday. I felt a little shy and out of place. They’ve already bonded in a ”pack” and weren’t sure they wanted me to join in. One of them snapped at me, and they all ran off leaving me standing alone. I struggled with hurt feelings and a sense of isolation. It hurt.

A friend of Jane’s recently wrote about an incident that hurt his feelings and that reminded me of how I felt with the new pack of dog friends. This fellow brought some cavaletties to his new equestrian center so he could work on his horse’s rhythm and conditioning. When he was done riding, he left the cavalettis along the side of the arena, thinking other boarders might want to use them. But instead of using them, the established “pack” of boarders became angry and criticized him as too lazy to put his tools away. This hurt him, as his intentions were to be generous and caring of others, not lazy or thoughtless. To have his act of kindness turned against him by the established group stung and made him want to leave the barn.

This kind of event is called a “break in belonging.” It is one of the most painful things a person goes through, and it has a profound psychological effect. Children, especially, will make life-long decisions about themselves and their place in the world based on these “breaks.” The effect these events have on a person’s psyche cannot be overstated.

So what do you do when you have a “break in belonging”? First of all, recognizing what’s going on will help take some of the sting out of the event. Self-examination can increase personal wisdom and improve future choices. Do you need to apologize? Do you need to change your behavior? Would it be helpful to explain your actions to the leader of the group?

Some unhealthy groups form and become stronger because they pick a common “enemy” to give them a sense of belonging. Recognizing the “pack mentality” and knowing it says more about them than it does about you, gives you the opportunity to step back and take a look at what’s really going on. Then you get to decide if this is really a group that fits your core values or if is it a toxic group with whom you would be wise to remain an outsider.

It’s easy for me to tell you not to let the feelings of rejection bother you. I understand what’s happening, and it still bothers me. These “breaks in belonging” happen to everyone, no exceptions. It’s up to each of us to decide whether we should try to “fix” the break, or let it go and move on.

I decided to change my focus, find my good friend Geoffrey, and have a fun day playing with him. Later, the other dogs saw us, and eventually we all played a great game of hide and seek together. I decided to focus on the fun, and ignore the past negative feelings. And I ended up having a terrific day!

What are YOU focused on today? Remember, whatever you focus on, you get more of! Decide to focus on having a GREAT day!

Love, Indy

From Moshi

What makes the difference between success and failure? Not reaching your goal is often as simple a matter as giving up too soon.

I’ve seen this over and over in dressage competition. Someone has a bad day in the ring, and they give up in frustration. They get so upset they scratch from the rest of their classes. It may have been a simple mistake, or a forgotten element, or a skill that wasn’t quite ready to be performed for a judge. The fix might be one tiny tweak. But the experience of failing makes some people throw in the towel.

Toughness in the face of adversity is one of the most valuable assets you can cultivate. If you’re not naturally brave or in the habit of pushing through the discomfort of “failure,” you can change this. All you have to do is DECIDE to change. Decide that nothing is going to stop you from your goal! No matter what it is–business, relationships, riding, showing. Make the decision that you’re going to use mistakes and setbacks as your roadmap to success!

Remember…You have to risk failure in order to succeed!

I’m going to race Indy today. He’s beat me before, so I’ve been practicing. I’m faster than ever! My goal is to beat him to the end of the fence, and today just might be my day! Do you want to watch? See you at the barn! Bring carrots for the winner, okay?

Love, Moshi

From Indy

Owwww…My tummy hurts! I found a dead mouse in the grass yesterday, and I ate it. Don’t tell Jane! But I think it was rotten. My stomach feels like it’s in knots. Ick. I’d better go eat some grass and see if my stomach will work in reverse. I know I’ll feel better if I do. Owwwwww!

I tend to react from instinct more than thought. My wolf instinct said to eat the mouse. My more developed thinking brain said I should probably check it out a bit more first. But in the heat of the moment my inner Wolf took over, and down it went. That was a mistake.

We all do things that aren’t good for us. Sometimes they don’t matter, but sometimes they do. I’ve heard Jane say that she has to avoid sugar in her diet to maintain her weight. She likes sugary treats, but she’s consciously developed the strength to say no when fattening foods are presented to her. She can say no because staying fit for riding is a stronger desire for her than her love for sweets. She’s found an ability to override her “Bad Sugar Wolf” with her determination to stay fit.

What in your life needs a little bit of conscious backbone to overcome your “Big Bad Wolf”? Developing strength to overcome a bad habit or negative urge can be as simple as looking at your “why.” Why do you want to stop a bad habit? What would you achieve if you could will yourself out of that habit? Is that desire strong enough to put your “Bad Wolf” in a cage? Do you have a “Good Wolf” with the strength to fight and override the “Bad Wolf”?

The strength of your “why” is what makes the difference between giving in to temptation and staying strong so you can do what you know is best for you. Ponder that today. Is your “why” big enough?

I am going to remember this tummy ache the next time I find a dead mouse. The pain I’m feeling right now is a big enough “why” to remember to leave dead mice alone. Guess I had to learn this one the hard way. I hope you can learn your “whys” in an easier way!

Love, Indy

From Moshi

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you think they will. The disappointment can be tough to deal with. When I first heard I was moving to America, I thought I’d be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade someday. But instead I’m headed to another dressage show. I could be upset, but it wouldn’t help. I just have to find a way to let go of my previous expectations, and find my joy in where I am right now.

Have you ever spent a lot of time and effort working on something that didn’t pan out the way you thought it would? Hurts… doesn’t it… But that’s just part of life. We can plan, direct, effort, and push, and still not end up where we thought we should. So what do you do about it?

There is a time for wallowing in the disappointment and allowing yourself to feel the feelings. Let them be. No matter how much it hurts, let the feelings come. Don’t resist. Give the feelings a chance to be expressed and released. But also, don’t stay there. Look at the elements of what you were trying to achieve, and then make a new plan.

What are the basic elements of what you wanted? For me it was the excitement of the big crowds of people watching me march down the street. I wanted to feel the appreciation of the public as I strutted between the tall buildings showing off my high step and shiny coat. I wanted to feel adored. I wanted to be famous. I wanted my family in Holland to see me on TV so they would be proud of me.

Getting down to the most basic element, I realized that I truly wanted was to be loved and appreciated. I get that from Jane, Rhett, and Indy every day. So, while I may be appreciated as a competitor in the show ring and not the public streets of New York, I do get appreciated. So my deepest desire has actually been fulfilled! Acknowledging that made me feel so much better.

What deep desires do you have that have already been fulfilled? Can you appreciate those today? Let yourself be grateful for what you’ve already received, and make a new plan from that place. Starting from a place of gratitude, your next goal will have a running start!

Say.. will you come to the dressage show and cheer for me? I just love an adoring crowd!

Love, Moshi

From Indy

Florida is the BEST! I just love all the water! Finding pools and ponds to swim in is the most fun part of being a dog. Jane doesn’t like all the bugs in Florida, but it’s a small price to pay for the warm weather and all the fun things to do!

Rhett likes the green grass and not having to shovel snow every day. Jane likes that she can ride almost every day, and that it never freezes. Moshi likes that his coat can be clipped, and he doesn’t get cold like he would in Vermont. Jane and Rhett have a lot of friends in Florida, and they’re excited to be with them for the winter season.

What do you like best about where you live? Is it the weather, or the people, or the activities you like best? If you get a lot of snow where you live, do you get out and play in it? I hope so. No matter what the weather, there are always fun things to do. Since you can’t change the weather, it’s a good idea to find a way to enjoy what you’ve got. That may take a little effort, but it’s worth it.

I’m going to go swimming with my friend Chance today. That’s my fun thing to do! Come on along and throw the ball for me! Will you?

Love, Indy

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