Reflections with the Herd - The Process of Reflection

As it is for a lot of folks, this is a time in the year that I sit back in reflection.  Reflecting on the year that’s passed, where I’ve been (physically, mentally, and spiritually), where I am, and where the path is leading me. Over the last few weeks in various conversations, friends have posed some questions that really struck a note with me and I jotted them down to sit with in my process of reflecting.

How am I co-creating with spirit?

When we are in our clear, collected anchored space, what opportunities or possibilities open up to us?

Where do I want to force things? Where can I just let them be?

How can I be in relationship instead of pushing agenda?

How do I invest in myself?

How do I not care what other people think?

​This last one can be a bit of a stumbling block. Sometimes our path is not easily understood by those around us. To be fair, our loved ones usually only want what’s best for us, and want to keep us safe. Criticism is often born from a fearful mindset. But they also see the world through their own filter, and their choices, their path, may not be the one that’s right for us. So how do we stick to our authentic path when others disapprove? How do we not care what other people think?

The fact is, humans can be judgmental. And its only human nature to want those important to us to support our decisions and our visions for the future. So of course we care what other people think. I care what those close to me think about what I’m doing. Some are proud that I’m forging forward courageously.  Some are skeptical that the business I’m building is even viable. Some call me a crazy hippie lady that talks to horses. No really. That’s a reality for me. Sometimes my feelings are hurt. Sometimes I cry and feel deflated. But still I’m moving forward.

My hurt feelings are about my ego. My path forward is about following my soul’s purpose. It’s not that I don’t care about what people think. But I am more committed to pursuing what makes my soul sing, than I am to dwelling on what bruises my ego.

It still trips me up from time to time. Sometimes I get sidetracked and don’t want to deal with it and so I sit and watch scifi or play games. I’m human.  Its not about being perfect and never sliding into doubt, but how quickly can we recover back into our authentic confident self. That’s where my process takes me back to what are my anchors? And what is my why? My anchors are those things that bring me back into clarity and confidence. Quiet time by myself, spending time with my horses, time with my family and loved ones, and being outside in nature.  These are some of my anchors. And when I take the time to reconnect with those anchors, the why becomes clear. To provide a home for my horses, to support my loved ones, to find fulfillment for myself. Those are some of why I’m pursuing my path forward.

So when we are connected to our anchored space, what possibilities open up to us? When we find ourselves sidetracked, it’s easy to let limiting beliefs consume our thoughts and hold us back from stepping forward into our courage zone. That’s right, our comfort zone is safe, secure and familiar. But that’s not where growth or progress happens, for that you need to stretch. And that can be a little uncomfortable. It can also cause us to try too hard to force things to conform to our expectations. What if we practiced being present to what is? Being available to possibility and opportunities that we cannot imagine because our beliefs and experience limit what we think could be. I’m a believer that the universe conspires to support us. When we open ourselves to the possibilities and are confident in our ability to handle what comes our way, the universe opens the door to some amazing opportunities. So, how are we co-creating our future with spirit? How can we be in relationship with the flow of our life instead of pushing an agenda borne from a limited perspective?

Wow, that just struck a chord for me, that will be something I sit and reflect and journal about over the next few days.

That, and how do I invest in myself? And I’m not specifically referring to financially, but in general.  What relationships do we pursue that support our growth, challenge our preconceptions, trigger us to strive to be more than we thought possible? How do we address our self-care? What do we do for ourselves to ensure that we are equipped and supported to handle the challenges that life is sure to throw at us? And yes, where do we invest funds in coaching, education, and mentoring?

That’s a bit about my process of reflection, particularly as we approach the end of the year and look toward the future.  What are your traditions that have you preparing for the new year? I’d love to hear your feedback.  My next step is creating my vision board.  Stay tuned for that process in the coming days!

If you would like to learn more about the Teachings of Equus, or schedule a session with me and my herd, please contact me at  [email protected]. Wherever this finds you today, I’d love your feedback.
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Happy New Year from Toni and the Herd!

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