#53 Lisa Calder: The Art of Balancing Connection and Direction

My guest for the latest Creative Spirits Unleashed Podcast episode is Lisa Calder. I met Lisa at the Equus Film Festival in December. When I watched her work in the round pen, I was immediately intrigued by her leadership style with horses. She has the precise balance of connection and direction that creates a seemingly effortless dance together, the kind of balance I call Dancing the Tightrope.

This was one of the most unforgettable conversations I’ve ever had. Early on, Lisa shared some of her darkest days with a story that took my breath away. Literally, as she told it, I had to remind myself to breathe. Her story is a powerful reminder of our inner strength if we can get out of our own way to let it rise to the surface.

She also shared her experience with burnout and how she finally learned how to say no and to walk with her spine and open heart. You have to hear how she described what this looks and feels like, because it is yet another balancing act. Many times during this conversation, I realized that Lisa was giving all of us a master class in self-awareness.

Lisa Calder is the creator of Mindful Horsemanship. Her one-of-a-kind approach to horsemanship combines personal development and a unique way of using the breath while working with the horse, creating an unbreakable bond of true connection. Lisa believes if we are only working on our horse, we are missing the art of horsemanship. One must change their unconscious behaviors from within in order to create lasting change in their relationships.

Topics

What does it mean to be real?
When you’re out of alignment, it’s time to stop and change.
Dealing with suicidal ideation.
Breaking everything down to one step at a time.
The pressure was my own pressure
We have turned money into an identifier of your worth.
How do you know when you’ve got a horse that’s in trouble?
Lynn’s story of how she drew her story into a corporate story.
Stop making it about us and start looking at what does my horse need from me.
He was the only horse in the group that would not leave.
You can never show fear to a horse if you’re incongruent.
How do you avoid taking things personally when it appears that the horse is wanting to be disconnected from you?
Leadership is nothing more than asking for help -.
How to get out of your shell.
Reaching for your tools instead of your rules.