When In Doubt, Just Chill Out!

With Western Bonanza this weekend and show season in full swing in Texas, we thought this might help. Anxiety and stress do terrible things to our bodies, cause chaos for our families, and can be detrimental to the health of our livestock. This article is from my first article published in Pacific Showcase Magazine. We want everyone to have a fun, exciting, and friendly experience this weekend and throughout the year! After all why do anything unless it is truly enjoyable? It all starts with each and every one of us doing our part. So be positive, take deep breaths in times of stress, and most of all don't forget these livestock shows are for the youth! Have a phenomenal weekend friends!! 

When In Doubt, Just Chill Out!

It’s 9 A.M., an hour from show time, and the barn is in chaos. The sound of blowers, water spraying, parents and kids arguing, and livestock calling out fill your ears. Your adrenaline has already kicked into high gear. Your nerves are completely on edge. You begin to feel the anxiety taking over.

When I was showing and rodeoing, there were numerous times I really let my nerves get the best of me. When that happened, I wasn't able to get the most out of myself and the experience. I wasn't thinking clearly and my body was in shear panic mode. Now, I don't know about you, but that really used to irritate me! I mean, I put in so many hours practicing, feeding, cleaning and exercising. I wanted the most out of the experience, but my anxiety always seemed to get in the way.

So let us get down to how you can prevent anxiety, most of your nervousness, and get your focus on!

First, breathing is so important. When our breathing shortens and gets faster, our body thinks it’s in “fight or flight” mode. Our bodies do not recognize whether we are running from a bear or just going into the ring to show an animal, but wow... the difference is of course huge. So we learn to control our breathing by taking a deep breath in through our nose, counting five seconds, holding for one second, and then breathe out through the mouth slowly while counting to ten. This relaxes our bodies. By allowing oxygen to flow to all parts of the body, slowing the heart rate, and allowing our minds to settle, we can focus on the task at hand. Do this a good ten times whenever you start to feel anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. I definitely recommend practicing this breathing technique daily so you know what to do when showtime rolls around.

Another technique to relax is to sit quietly, breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth, and start visualizing your complete routine. Every detail from where you walk into the ring, to who you will be next to, to how you will show your animal, to the eye contact you will make with the judge, to the placing you want to receive. The more detail of what you want to happen and how you will do it--the better. If you practice this diligently, you will feel more confident. Confidence allows your mind and body to work together to help you achieve your goals. By the way, you can use these tools in anything you do in life.

A good way to calm your nerves is to be grateful for what you have, and what you have achieved. If you are not content with what you have and the hard work you have put in at this point, it is nearly impossible to ever be satisfied and grow from the experience. You will always be thinking about what you wished you had or didn’t have. Being grateful allows us to be happy in the moment so when we do achieve our goals and dreams, we feel fulfilled and appreciative for longer than a day.

Parents, these are great ways to calm your anxiety too! Remember, this is supposed to be fun and exciting! Try to be understanding of the nerves of you children, and be as supportive as possible. The last thing they need is someone yelling at them. Now, this doesn’t mean your kids should be disrespectful or inconsiderate of the hard work you have put in to get them here. That is why it is called “teamwork”. Teamwork allows everyone to achieve more. Working together makes it a fun experience.

Practicing these techniques at the show will surely make your experience smoother and more fulfilling!

Charles Spurgeon, the Preacher of the People said, ”Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.” Do not waste another moment in anxiety. Stop, breathe, visualize, and count your blessings. The power of these steps is truly amazing! Practice them and see for yourself.

With Love,

Whitney