Next On My List

This year I’ve been focusing on some personal goals.  The first goal I committed myself to over the summer was taking a day to not work, relax and rejuvenate.  I had to really work on letting go of feeling guilty for taking time to myself.  I have to admit that with practice this has gotten much easier! I really look forward to my days off now.  And what’s really great is by the end of my day off I am excited and looking forward to my work the next day.  I think I’ve found a nice balance between appreciating a day of rest and loving my work.

This fall I decided to focus on abundance.  Often my business slows down in the winter time but this year I’ve been focusing on maintaining my lessons throughout the fall and winter, on keeping a barn full of great horses in training, and keeping my fall/winter income up to par with what it is in the summer time.  In order to help myself in this department I’ve really tried to keep a positive and grateful mindset. I focus on being grateful for what I already do have, therefore attracting more like things to myself.  I have to admit, this fall I’ve had more new lesson students sign up than any other previous year.  I also have a full barn of horses in training and a barn full of above and beyond helpful and supportive friends. 

For the rest of 2009 and going into 2010, I will continue to appreciate my day of rest, I will focus on abundance and gratitude, and I will also work on being present in the moment. This winter my new goal is to focus on being more present in the moment. I’ve noticed that when I’m really busy I stay focused on the task at hand.  However, in the fall and winter, barn chores become long and monotonous.  Cleaning stalls, for example, takes a long time and is the same thing over and over.  When I work on a task like this my mind tends to wander.  I tend to think about everything that I have to get done that day, will I get it done? Is there enough time? What if I don’t get things done on time?  Then I get anxious and worry.  What I need to do is stop this run away thinking, breathe, relax, and focus on being present instead of worrying about the future.  This all of course goes back to The Four Agreements.  When I get anxious and worry I am making assumptions (thinking that I won’t get things done in a timely manner and worrying that I’ve taken on too much to do that day).  In reality everything ALWAYS gets done, I really don’t know why I worry so much about something that has never even happened.

The first step to becoming more present in the moment is to be aware of my thoughts.  I believe that I’ve already accomplished this step. I am aware that my thoughts are running into the future without me! Now I just need to reel them back in and become more aware of the current moment.  If I’m cleaning stalls for example, I can focus on the sweet smell of hay, the warmth and softness of the horse’s body next to mine, the comforting sound of the horse munching on hay.  All of these senses will help keep me in the now.  If my thoughts begin to wander, I’ll try to immediately find something positive to focus on, slow my breathing down and trust that everything will get done and know that worrying about it will not help, it will only send out negative energy and make me less efficient. My new goal this winter is to be present in the moment and keep my thoughts focused on and appreciate all of the positive and beautiful things going on all around me.

Claire Affleck
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