My friend, Spencer, asked me,
“What do you think the most commonly used word is, in the world? Just one word…”
My first guess was the word “Mom”. But nope. What would your first guess be?
Well, he told me that one of the most commonly used words in the world (English and non-English speaking) is the word “OK”. I looked it up and the number one word is actually “Hello”, but “OK” was right behind it.
Then he continued his story and told me that his friend had challenged him to say “OK” to everything that came up in his life over the next two weeks. His friend told him that he had done this himself and it had changed his life forever.
So Spencer took on his friend’s challenge and said “OK” to everything that came up, within moral and legal limits of course for the next two weeks. And he was amazed at how it changed his life too.
He told me that the first week he did this someone brought him an opportunity and as much as he wanted to say no, he went with the challenge and said “OK”. It pushed him past his comfort level.
In the first week, he made $3,000 on this opportunity. The second week he made $7,000 and then $10,000 and then $20,000. So in the first month, he made an extra $40,000 in income. That extra income alone changed his life. But there was more.
He said “OK” to other things too and the challenge pushed him to do things he never would have thought of. Things that he had to work for and had to learn more about.
These things pushed him to see life differently and people differently. It changed his way of looking at life and his perceptions in very positive ways.
Spencer told me that he has been doing this, saying “ok”, for an entire year now and he can’t believe how much this one little thing has changed his life for the better. He never would have imagined that his life could change so much in one year and that all this was even possible.
He is still doing this challenge and is very happy.
His story reminded me of the 14-day challenge that I give my students when they first start with me.
During the 14-day challenge, I ask my students to stop everything that they are used to doing with their horse – training, trail rides, jumping, competitions, etc… The idea behind this challenge is to start over and hit the reset button with their horse.
It’s really simple. Just take 14 days to shift your perspective and that of your horse.
Here’s a quick overview of what I ask my students to do during my 14-day challenge:
1. Go out and just hang out with your horse for 14 days.
o No training and no riding.
o You can groom, pet, and talk to your horse.
o You can walk around the pasture with your horse.
o You can sit in a chair and watch your horse, enjoying the outdoors.
o You can listen to music or read a book.
o You can listen to the birds, wind, trees, etc., or meditate.
2. While you are hanging out…
o Watch how your horse reacts to different things.
o Walk around and explore the pasture with your horse.
o Listen to your horse’s natural sounds.
o Watch your horse’s body language and learn from it.
o Watch your horse’s ears, tail switches, and leg movements.
3. Say “OK” to your horse.
o Scratch him when and where your horse asks.
o Talk to your horse and watch his reactions.
o If your horse wants to go for a walk, take him/her.
o Let him lead you where he/she wants to go.
o If your horse wants to lie down or just rest, let him/her.
o Do what your horse wants instead of what you want.
This is just a very general overview of what I do with my students during my 14-day challenge. But every student and horse that has done this in my “Recess with Your Horse” program has seen a change in their horse and in themselves. It works every time.
The transformations are beautiful!
I hope this piques your interest and you try either my 14-day “OK” challenge or my friend’s 14-day “OK” challenge. And if you do either one, please let me know how it went. I’d love to hear about your success.
Until next week, have a great weekend, and Happy Horses!