|
Setting Goals
|
| (Sunday, 16 November 2008) Written by heather |
| This weekend I had a great opportunity to participate in a professional development workshop. One of the sessions was on "setting goals." What I found most interesting about this workshop was that much of it sounded familiar.
We worked on various kinds of exercises like visualizing, using positive language to describe our goals, and writing down our goals. We also discussed recovering from mistakes and moving forward after a problem.
These ideas seemed familiar to me through Jane Savoie's writing, especially "That Winning Feeling" and "It's Not Just the Ribbons." In particular, her visualization exercises have always seemed a powerful way to influence positively one's actions. I've also read about how the Dutch Olympic team (and I'm sure many of the Olympic athletes) use sports psychology as an integral part of their training routine.
The discussions we had this weekend about how to recover from mistakes one might make at work recalled strategies that Eileen Keipper discusses in the videos on this website. Indeed, the first video lesson by Eileen on this site outlines strategies for focusing and setting goals that were also mentioned by the professional trainer this weekend. Anyone who has seen Isabel Werth's Olympic performance and masterful recovery from a momentary disobedience by her horse will appreciate how this skill can lead to success. If you haven't seen the ride, here's a clip of one of the episodes she had:
The connection to developing one's mental skills and strategies as a way to improve professional and athletic performance makes great sense. I look forward to tackling a reading list from this weekend's workshop, both for the professional development it promises and for the added side benefit of developing my riding toolkit as well.
|
|
The Dara Torres Effect
|
| (Tuesday, 04 November 2008) Written by heather |
|
With work being so incredibly busy lately, it's been quite a challenge to find time or energy or even just the organizational capacity to write in the blog.
However, I thought I'd put up a quick post inspired by a recent quote I read by Dara Torres. Torres is, of course, the 41 year old swimmer who won 3 silver medals in the summer Olympics in Beijing.
Torres said she still felt competitive and planned to swim at an international event in the next two years (she named the event, but I can't remember it). She said she wasn't really thinking of the next Olympics and didn't think she'd swim in it but wasn't going to discount entirely the possibility.
What I really liked about Torres's focus was ... well... her focus. My horse is an older guy and I've been very worried that he might want to slow down. Not that he gives me _any_ indication that he wants to, mind you. The vet, his saddle fitter, his massage therapist, and clinicians and my instructor have all confirmed that he's in great shape and there's no reason not to ride or train.
So, I'll try to take the Dara Torres short focus over the next couple of years and continue working and playing and having fun.
|
|
Dressage at 100 mph
|
| (Tuesday, 07 October 2008) Written by heather |
|
I'm sure everyone has the feeling that time goes by way too quickly
when they are trying to keep the rest of life in balance with riding
and training.
I am just coming up for air from a particularly busy time at work
(for the last two months!) and realizing that while my work is going at
100 mph, my dressage training is going at about 3 mph. Nonetheless, in
one of my bolder Nike-inspired "Just Do It" moments, I sent in the
entry form for my favorite schooling show series. Now, it feels like
the dressage is coming at me fast!
If I'm able to get the trailer inspected by this weekend, we'll hit
the road and go to the show (the dry rot on the trailer tires is
looking pretty serious!). I've really enjoyed the videos by Eileen
Keipper and if I do go to the show, will focus on some of the points
she shared in video 1 about focusing and recovering from mistakes. I
think it will be helpful to use this show to focus on"my" show skills
rather than worry *too* much about our riding which isn't exactly
polished right now.
So, here's hoping that I find my half-halts to work and training and see everyone at the show this weekend (The weather is supposed to be great!)
|
Community Blog 