You Have More in Common With Otis, From The old Andy Griffith Show Than You Might Think

Otis was the alcoholic character who, when he was jailed for public drunkenness, had the keys within reach of his cell. In the morning he would reach over, pick up the keys, let himself out and get along with his business. 

 I am beginning to learn how close we each keep the keys to the jail cell that we build for ourselves. What we now ridiculously call our "comfort zone" is the cell that we live in. We built it ourselves. We know how to get out. It is just that it might be ...uncomfortable to do so.

It would be bad enough if the cell stayed the same size as we age, but it does not. It shrinks. And as it gets smaller the bars become thicker. 

But it does not have to be that way. Every time you consciously do something that you find uncomfortable, you weaken the bars. You make your cell larger. You bring the keys into even closer reach. 

Begin with baby steps. Are you anxious when riding? Then everyday eat some food that you do not like. Eat some food that you despise. Learn that it does not kill you and after a few days it does not even hurt you. Expose yourself to uncomfortable weather--again a little bit at a time. Gradually do things that you do not want to do and do them every day.

We teach horses to want to be caught by driving them away from us. We can teach ourselves to be comfortable by doing things that we have deemed uncomfortable. 

I am delighted to see some of our young people applying these principles to their lives. I love watching anxiety retreat as courage advances. 

It is even more fun watching young people grow into strong, healthy adults than it is to watch colts grow into strong, healthy horses.