Pressure isn’t the Problem, it’s the Amplifier

My wonderful friend Shannon Pigott just wrote an article on Pressure isn’t
the Problem, it’s the Amplifier. I liked it so much I asked her for permission to
reprint it for all of you. Here it is!

Left to right: Sandy Collier, Barbra Schulte, Kathy Daughn, and Shannon Pigott

“Dear pressure, I’m learning to love you!

There was a time when I thought pressure was the problem.

I’d show up prepared. I had done the work. My horse was ready. But when the
stakes got high and the judge was watching or people were lined up at the rail, I
would freeze. My body hesitated to respond the way it had in practice. I felt
disconnected from my horse, from my plan, and honestly, from myself.

That kind of pressure used to leave me frustrated and discouraged. I thought
something was wrong with me. I thought I lacked grit or mental toughness or
whatever it was that other riders seemed to have when they walked in with
confidence.

But I’ve learned something that changed everything. Pressure isn’t the problem,
it’s the amplifier.

It turns up whatever doubt is already inside of you. If you bring fear into the pen,
pressure makes it louder. If you bring doubt, pressure turns it into hesitation. But
if you walk in with focus and a clear plan, pressure will sharpen your performance.
Now I treat pressure like a tool. It is something I am learning how to use, not
something to avoid.

Here’s one of the biggest mindset shifts that helped me.

I’ve done harder things than this.

I’ve walked through real challenges. Physical ones. Emotional ones. Life has
thrown tougher things at me than a reining pattern or a fence run. Reminding
myself of that gives me something to anchor to when the pressure hits. It helps
me stay calm. It helps me breathe. And most importantly, it helps me execute.

I’m not perfect at it. Pressure still shows up. But now, instead of fearing it, I’m
learning to ride with it. I’m learning to let it sharpen my senses instead of cloud
them. I’m learning to trust myself more than I doubt.

And maybe, just maybe, I’m learning to love it!