There are various words that come to mind when seeking a way to represent the events of the past few months – virus, pandemic, chaos, uncertainty, sadness and fear, among others. As well, there are other words associated with the same stream of events – gratitude, calming, social connection, reconnecting to what’s important, and slowing down. Hope isn’t easy to come by and it is okay to honor your experience just as it is. There…
One of the ways of being tuned in to the present moment, regardless of what it feels like, is by shifting your perspective towards emotions that are considered to be unpleasant. We use the words “emotions” and “feelings” interchangeably in this post. Unpleasant emotions might include feelings of shame, sadness, regret, disappointment, frustration, self-doubt, apprehension, and so on. Sometimes, these emotions can overwhelm with their intensity. It may seem like they are unbearable and one…
Being able to notice the present moment, just the way it is, can create opportunities to live life to the fullest. This particular way of noticing is something that can be practiced at any time and in any place. One brings intention to the process of noticing present-moment experience without forcing anything to be different than it is. We recently had the opportunity to visit a generous and kind family in the UK and spend…
Here is an exercise you can try whenever approaching a horse. Horses, being prey animals, are extremely sensitive to the non-verbal signals and body language that you project when you are in their vicinity. Being aware of your state of mind and emotions, or even your “state of energy” if that is a term to which you can relate, can help you tune in to what you are relaying to your horse. This exercise, suggested…
There are days when everything is in flow and there are days when you have no clue what the Universe is trying to teach you. Horses present many opportunities for you to learn how to navigate chaos. As you drop into spending time with them, you can never quite predict how things will go. Sure, you may have an idea, especially if this is a horse you know well and you’ve learned his or her…
This post is intended to facilitate a conceptual starting point for everyone reading this blog. All of us have experienced what it means to be mindfully aware and, as you read through these descriptions, reflect on when you might have had such experiences. It may have been when you had a particularly joyous moment with someone you care about, you were listening to a piece of music or saw a piece of art that resonated…
Being “Mind Full” is feeling stuck with thoughts from the past and the present, which pollutes our minds and limits our capacity to be aware and live in the present. On the other hand, being “Mindful” means focusing on the present and being aware of what you are doing in the now. You can set an intention to focus on one aspect of the present moment, such as what you are doing right now. When…
What does authenticity mean to each and every one of us? This is an important discussion to have at the start of a new creative project. It can also be helpful to check in with oneself every now and then to explore whether one is being authentic in various parts of life. How can one know if he or she is being authentic? There is no single answer for this. In our perspective, when we…
Thank you for joining us as we share our impressions and experiences of being in the mindful moment with our horses. We are Shreyasi and Frank Brodhecker. We started this blog as a forum for horse lovers seeking ways to be in the present moment and practice everyday mindfulness at their favourite place- in the barn or out in the pasture. Mindfulness has evolved into its own movement and, although there are several definitions, we…