You're Not Behind—You're Growing with Intention

You're Not Behind—You're Growing with Intention

Sweet, soulful, and deeply important—these words come to mind when I think about our journeys with our horses and ourselves.

Lately, I've been reflecting a lot on growth: how we measure it, how we experience it, and most importantly, how we feel about it.

Growth has many faces.

Sometimes, it arrives swiftly and effortlessly, like a gentle breeze on a sunny day. We move forward easily, and everything flows naturally.

Those moments are beautiful, aren't they?

Yet, more often, our deepest growth—especially in our horsemanship journeys—is quiet, slow, and almost invisible. It unfolds in layers beneath the surface, gently asking for patience, intention, and profound trust.

Behind the scenes of my own journey, I've spent countless hours, weeks, months—even years—quietly cultivating connection, refining techniques, and exploring deeper ways to communicate authentically with my horses. All this happens while, in stark contrast, social media buzzes loudly around me, filled with quick fixes, instant results, and flashy demonstrations that promise rapid transformations.

In our fast-paced world, instant gratification often gets more attention than the quieter paths of soulful intention. We scroll past flashy headlines offering immediate success, rapid solutions, and easy wins. And it can be challenging, sometimes even disheartening, to watch all this rapid-fire "progress" and wonder if we're somehow missing out.

I get it.

Seeing all the quick wins around us can make our patient approach feel frustratingly slow. We may wonder if we're getting it wrong or falling behind just because our own journeys require more time, more depth, more subtlety.

But here is a gentle truth that I want you to hear, feel, and remember:

• You are not behind.

• You are exactly where you need to be.

• The kind of growth you're cultivating—the real, genuine, heart-and-soul growth—takes time. It demands more than fleeting attention; it requires commitment, intention, awareness, and grace.

• Every quiet moment you spend listening instead of demanding.

• Every subtle adjustment you make, refining your aids until they become nearly invisible.

• Every reflection, every pause, every time you choose depth over speed.

All these moments matter deeply. Because they're building something far more precious than quick wins—they're building a relationship rooted in authenticity, trust, and genuine connection.

It's easy to question your path when progress feels slow. But remember, growth doesn't always look or feel like obvious progress at first. Sometimes, it feels like quiet waiting, gentle nudging, or patient observing.

It’s subtle.

It’s steady.

It’s profound.

One day, you will look back and clearly see how beautifully you've grown. You'll see the subtle yet profound shifts in your relationship with your horse, the softness in your communication, and the depth in your partnership. You’ll recognise how your patience and intention shaped something lasting, meaningful, and true.

Growth that's worth achieving—especially the kind built on soulful connection—takes time. Not because you're doing something wrong, but precisely because you're doing something profoundly right.

So, when you feel uncertain, frustrated, or impatient, remind yourself gently:

You are right on time.

You are building something special, thoughtful, and deeply real. And trust me—your patience, intention, and heart are laying the groundwork for something extraordinary.

Keep going. You're growing exactly as you should.

Lynley.