Why You Don’t Realise How Far You’ve Come (And How to Change That)"

 Remember When This Felt Impossible? 

Think back to: 

- Your first gym session when 5kg felt like a mountain. 

- The first time you rode a new horse and everything felt wrong. 

- That jump you used to panic about that now feels easy. 

But here’s the thing: 

You probably didn’t pause to think, "Wow, look how far I’ve come." Instead, you just moved onto the next challenge. 

Sound familiar? 

We do this all the time in riding (and life). We dismiss progress because it’s not "perfect" yet. But minimising your wins is stealing your own joy. 

---

Why We Skip Celebrating (And Why It Matters) 

1. The "Next Goal" Trap 

- You finally canter confidently… and immediately think, "Okay, now I need to jump." 

- Result? You’re always chasing, never enjoying. 

2. Comparison Kills Progress 

- "That rider is better than me" → Makes your achievements feel small. 

- Truth: Everyone starts somewhere. That "naturally talented" rider? Probably fell off a lot too. 

3. Your Brain Doesn’t Track Growth 

- Progress happens slowly, so you don’t feel it. 

- Fix: You have to actively look back to see how far you’ve come. 

---

How to Start Celebrating (Without Feeling Silly) 

1. The "Then vs. Now" Exercise 

- Grab a notebook. Write down: 

  - "3 things that used to scare me but don’t anymore." 

  - "3 skills I’ve improved without realising." 

- Example: 

  - Then: "I’d panic if my horse trotted too fast." 

  - Now: "I can laugh when he gets excited." 

2. Ban the Word "Just" or "But"

- ❌ "It’s just a trot." 

- ✅ "I’ve nailed that trot—hell yes!" 

- ❌ "My score was good but I didn't do as well as last time" 

- ✅ "My score was good." 

3. Create a "Win Jar" 

- Drop a note in every time you: 

  - Try something new. 

  - Handle a spook calmly. 

  - Feel proud after a ride. 

- Read them monthly. You’ll be shocked at your progress. 

---

Why This Changes Your Riding (And Your Brain) 

- More confidence: Celebrating rewires your brain to focus on what you can do. 

- More fun: Riding stops being a checklist and starts being a journey. 

- More resilience: When you hit a setback, you’ll remember, "I’ve overcome worse." 

---

Final Thought 

Progress isn’t just about the big moments. It’s the small, unnoticed wins that add up to something extraordinary. 

So next time you think, "It’s not a big deal," stop. Look back. And give yourself the credit you deserve. 

Fresh Focus Therapy offers online therapy for horse riding anxiety.