Finding the right environment and teacher to learn with can be really messy territory to step into. On the one hand, we want to open ourselves up to the learning experience and put ourselves out there for the betterment of both ourselves and our horses. On the other, the vulnerability that creates means we want to make sure that we are doing so with the right people and in the right situations.
From the student perspective, we want to know that the ethos of any trainer or coach we work with aligns with what’s important to us. We want to make sure that our voice is respected and considered, and that the learning container is one that allows us to navigate our comfort zone artfully, empathetically and skilfully.
We also want to step into the mode of self-responsibility; to commit ourselves to the necessary level and to do the work required in order fully understand and embody what is being offered to us.
From the coach perspective, we need to have done enough work ourselves to allows our students their own learning experience, without seeking to control or override it. We need to let go of the need for others to agree with us and our patterns of perfectionism and likeability in order that we can be honest and clear.
At the end of the day, truly being teachable, I believe, comes down to self-trust. The self-trust that allows you to open yourself up to new things whilst maintaining your voice and advocating for yourself and your horse whenever the situation requires it.
In this episode we discuss:
- The difference between boundaries and barriers (and how they apply in learning situations)
- What to do when things go wonky and you realise you’re not in the right place for you (I share my own clinic experiences to this effect!)
- What it means to be teachable and take responsibility for your own “stuff” (which applies to both coaches and students)
- How the different nervous system states affect our capacity to learn
I really hope it’s useful to you when it comes to navigating your own experiences in the arena and beyond!
Happy listening!
❤️ Jane
