January 17, 2026
No matter how you feel about yourself right now, this is important to understand:
If your view of yourself is not kind, loving, and fair, it is not the full truth of who you are.
That view usually comes from past experiences, stress, or old hurts. It is not your true self. It is a learned story.
In the Michelle Method, we see this show up clearly with horses. A rider who feels unworthy, not good enough, or afraid often brings that feeling into the partnership. Horses feel it right away. They respond to how safe and confident you feel inside, not just what you do with your hands or legs.
Your true self is already whole.
You are allowed to learn.
You are allowed to make mistakes.
You are allowed to grow.
Your horse does not need you to be perfect. Your horse needs you to believe you are enough to show up calmly and honestly.
One way we begin the inner work is by noticing our reactions. When you hear kind or positive statements about yourself and feel uncomfortable, that discomfort is information. It shows where old beliefs are still holding on.
For example, if saying “I am worthy” feels awkward or wrong, that does not mean it is false. It usually means you learned something different a long time ago.
Horses do the same thing. When something new feels unsafe, they resist at first. Not because it is bad, but because it is unfamiliar.
Your mind works the same way.
It may want to rush past this work.
It may want to joke, argue, or avoid it.
That is just a protection habit trying to stay in control.
The Michelle Method does not fight these habits. We notice them. We slow down. We choose a different response.
Happiness, confidence, and calm are not things your horse, your job, or other people give you. They come from choices you make on the inside. When you change those inner choices, your horse feels it immediately.
Your timing improves.
Your patience grows.
Your partnership softens.
And this change does not stop at the barn.
You bring that same self-trust into your conversations, your relationships, and your daily life. You stop blaming. You stop proving. You start allowing.
Letting go of old beliefs can feel uncomfortable. That is normal. Growth often is. The tighter we hold onto old stories about who we think we are, the harder it feels to release them.
But real change does not come from force.
It comes from honesty, responsibility, and gentleness.
This is not about fixing yourself.
It is about remembering who you already are.
When you allow that, both you and your horse can finally breathe.