Do Affirmations Really Work?

force anything just be with the word and let your mind go. See what visual images emotions and videos pop up.
Here is one riders experience I think of the word harmony and my mind floats to the way my horse feels when he is responding to my aids. I feel and see myself being consistent and clear in how I communicate to him. I can almost feel his happiness because we are really connecting. I can feel a difference in my own body its so flexible yet the way I hold it is definite somehow. I see myself competing with harmony. Its way different than I thought like I always thought competition had to be stressful. It doesnt! I can really see how its possible to take harmony to the showring. I can really see how continuing with this kind of focus just for a few minutes daily could help me. It sort of sets up my mind for what I want to do it feels great. Like a really pleasant daydream.
You will of course have to do numerous sessions which fortunately dont take long to see results. Think of it as a rehearsal and know that rehearsals get easier and more powerful as time progresses. If you do experience resistance to a word dont panic but rather go with it. Get curious not furious.
Write down what you notice about this resistance. What kind of images come to you? How do you feel in your body? You might end up with some clues for some other kind of work you need to do with your confidence. Perhaps you need to better strengthen a physical skill for example or seek out more clarification of what your coach has been asking of you. Persist with your practice without trying too hard to make things happen. Eventually this kind of resistance resolves itself. It becomes easier and easier to conceive of a different kind of riding reality.
Also keep in mind that some words just wont do it for you. Its definitely a trial and error process. You often have to try them on see them in action to assess their impact on your personal psyche. You may find it helpful to set up your practice as an experiment. Again by using this word you help dissolve resistance and as well the pressure of certain expectations. Have fun with your mental games play a
little!
Now it may be that you are someone who likes the I am kind of affirmations. They do seem to work for some athletes. The world of sport and other psychology can only tell us what works for the majority. This is always the ultimate test for any mental training tool you develop does it really work for me? Develop your own system your very own physical and mental riding style.