I have to believe that loosening the EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM’S grip on life is as hard for other people as it is for me.  (With the exception of Dr. L on the radio who apparently sprung completely emotionally mature and without sin from the forehead of her immaculate father.)

Which takes me to an experience in which I was able to keep my THINKING GUIDANCE SYSTEM in charge most of the time.  hy?

Because I had the parents of young physically-challenged children to answer to. I was teaching riding to eight to ten-year-olds with various level of impairment due to cerebral palsy. As it was a hunter-jumper stable, the time for teaching them to jump. 

The EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE SYSTEMS of the children are saying,   “I can’t do this, I’m going to hurt myself, Something terrible and awful is going to happen!”

I go over the facts:    “One, we are going to start so very small, just a pole on the ground, that the new skill will hardly be different than what you are able to do already.”

“The horse you are riding has done this successfully many times.”

“Two, I’ve worked with many riders at your level,   they all were able to do this, and you can to.”

“Three, the worst that can happen is you will fall off, but then you’ve done that before and I’ll be right here.”  

And, perhaps most important, “Even though you’re afraid, maybe so afraid that you FEEL LIKE you don’t want to do this, if you can put those fears aside for a minute and give this new skill a try, you are going to be very glad   you did.”

And the connection between learning to jump over a pole on the ground and taking a step toward MANAGING ANXIETY better?

1) just a tiny increase from a skill we already have–breathing.

2) others have succeeded in staying calm without imploding.

3) the worst that can happen is still better than not trying.

4) my body and nerves can use the break.     So, I’m working on this, and you’re welcome to see how it goes.  I’m not sure exactly what it will look like, but I’m hoping I’ll stop my addiction to honey-roasted peanuts (See Practice What I Preach?), preferential airplane seating, and being in the first half of the cabin to be served a Coke. And that’s three that raised their ugly heads in about a minute and a half.