“You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.” Eckhart Tolle
So many miracles have come to me since I began my journey into recovery. I’ve met so many strong and courageous people, visited beautiful places, and bought beautiful things. But what I treasure most is discovering my goodness by believing in and respecting myself.
Now I make choices with a clear head and a healthy mind. I hear the saying in meetings, “I don’t always know what the next right thing is to do, but I do know what the next wrong thing is.” Obviously, the next wrong thing would be to have a drink. But how do we figure out the right thing?
I’m a big believer in not making a decision too quickly. I give myself time to use my tools to come to a choice that feels right in my heart. I follow my intuition, trust my heart, trust the process; and go to the horses for guidance.
Horses are awesome trust builders for anyone who is open to listening to them. To listen to a horse, I use all my senses. I use my sight to watch their movement. I listen for the sounds that they make. I watch their nostrils — are they flared or relaxed? What are they doing with their tongue? It is a privilege when the horse allows me to touch him. It is an unforgettable and moving experience to be touched by the horse.
I’m a big believer in not making a decision too quickly. I give myself time to use my tools to come to a choice that feels right in my heart.
Horses see the goodness that is within our hearts, even when we struggle to find it ourselves. I washed my personal values down with vodka; I made choices that were inconsistent with my true self. The horses helped me identify my core values and live by them. Knowing my values helps me make good heartfelt choices. Now when I go against my values to make someone else happy, I feel it, I can recognize it, and I can make choices that are true to me.
I knew in my heart that my behavior while I was drinking was not good. I also knew that I had to change that behavior. But first I had to clear my head and figure out how to stop drinking. Once I started the journey into recovery, I began tapping into the goodness within. I found parts of me that had been lost and broken for so long. In recovery, I was picking up the pieces one day (neigh) at a time, finding the goodness within my soul, enjoying the me that makes me proud to a part of my God’s world. I’m allowing the goodness to emerge more every day.
I would be honored to introduce you to the healing power of the horses. To have you experience what it’s like when you listen to them and, in the process, for you to tap into your own values. Make yourself a priority and we will see you in the barn.