Holiday Mindset Hacks for Riders: Lessons from The Grinch

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It’s the holidays, and you know what that means: the tree is lit, the cocoa is flowing, and I’m snuggled on the couch with my kiddos, making our way through every Christmas movie ever made. Elf, Home Alone, Arthur Christmas—you name it, we’re watching it. But the other night, it was The Grinch that really got me thinking.

Between the laughs and that heartwarming ending, I couldn’t help but notice how much his story mirrors what so many of us struggle with as riders: that inner voice full of doubt, criticism, and self-sabotage. His journey isn’t just about Christmas—it’s about mindset. Watching him go from wallowing in negativity to stepping into joy and abundance felt like a powerful reminder: the thoughts we choose shape the results we create. And honestly, isn’t that the ultimate holiday lesson?

So, grab your candy canes and hop aboard the holiday express, because we’re diving into the funnest way you’ll learn mental performance all year!

Ok, let’s be honest: The Grinch didn’t exactly have the most positive inner voice. Remember how he’d literally schedule time to ‘stare into the abyss and hate, hate, loathe’? If that kind of self-talk feels a little too familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

We all have an Inner Grinch—that sneaky voice that pops up during the toughest moments, whispering doubts and criticism. The good news? Just like The Grinch turned things around, so can you. Today, we’re unpacking mental performance lessons straight from Mount Crumpit to help you master your mindset and rewrite your inner dialogue.

Meet Your Inner Grinch

Think back to The Grinch’s day planner: '4:00, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, stare into the abyss.' Sounds ridiculous, right? But let’s pause for a moment. How often do we do the same thing—maybe not out loud, but in our heads?

As riders, it can show up as replaying mistakes over and over. Or telling yourself things like, 'I’ll never get this right,' or 'Everyone’s watching me mess up.' That’s your Inner Grinch talking. And while it might feel like those thoughts are just harmless background noise, they’re not.

The reality is, what you focus on grows. Spending mental energy on negativity—whether it’s about your riding, your horse, or yourself—can spiral quickly. It’s like staring into the abyss: the longer you do it, the darker it gets. But here’s the thing—you can choose to cancel that appointment with negativity. Let’s talk about how.

Flip the Script Like Cindy Lou Who

Cindy Lou Who saw something in The Grinch that he couldn’t see in himself. She believed in him when no one else did—not even The Grinch himself. What if you brought that same kind of belief to your own self-talk?

Imagine walking into the show pen feeling calm and capable because your inner dialogue is finally working for you, not against you.

Here’s the key: when you catch a negative thought, don’t let it settle in. Instead, flip it into something constructive. For example:

• Replace, 'I’m terrible at this,' with, 'I’m improving every day.'

• Trade, 'I’ll never figure this out,' for, 'I’m learning to love the process of getting better.'

• And swap, 'Everyone’s judging me,' for, 'I’m focusing on my own progress.'

Reframing isn’t just about saying nice things to yourself—it’s about rewiring your brain. Cindy Lou helped The Grinch see himself in a new light, and you can do the same for your own Inner Grinch. The more you practice, the stronger this mental muscle becomes.

Growing Your Heart (and Confidence!) Three Sizes

When The Grinch stopped focusing on everything he hated and started seeing the good around him, something amazing happened: his heart grew three sizes. That shift didn’t just change how he felt—it transformed what he was capable of doing.

The same principle applies to your riding. If you spend all your mental energy beating yourself up, there’s no space left for growth or confidence. But when you shift your focus, everything changes.

When you focus on what’s working, you start to notice more wins—and suddenly, confidence becomes second nature.

Picture this: you’re riding into the arena, your mind quiet, your heart steady, and your focus laser-sharp. That’s the power of aligned thoughts.

These small shifts can have a huge impact. Just like The Grinch discovered, what you focus on determines what grows.

We all have an Inner Grinch—that sneaky voice that thrives on doubt and criticism. You’ve felt it before, haven’t you? The voice that says you’re not good enough, or that everyone else has it figured out but you.

But what happens when that voice quiets down? What happens when you start to believe you’re capable of greatness? That’s the shift. When your thoughts align with your goals, your confidence grows—and so does your ability to show up as the rider you know you can be.

The Grinch went from hiding on Mount Crumpit to leading a joyful celebration, all because he rewrote his story. You can too.

The holidays are all about joy, renewal, and possibility—so why not bring that same spirit to the way you talk to yourself?

Be kind to your mind this season. When you choose compassion over criticism and belief over doubt, you unlock a whole new level of confidence in and out of the saddle.

I believe in you. Now it’s time for you to believe in yourself.

Looking to finally quiet that nagging Inner Grinch and ride with the confidence you’ve been dreaming of? It’s time to take control of your mindset and transform how you show up in the saddle.

Join Resilient Reiner Academy today and discover the tools, strategies, and support to rewire your self-talk, ditch the self-doubt, and step into the arena with unshakable mental strength. Whether you’re chasing blue ribbons or simply striving for your personal best, this is your chance to become the calm, focused, and unstoppable rider you know you can be.

Your journey to mental mastery starts here—let’s get to work!

Ride on with confidence!

Nicole

PS- hey, pssst, the Mental Gym for Equestrians is coming back in January! There are limited opportunities each year to join my group coaching program. MGE is for you if you’re ready for a pro-level, million-dollar rider mindset that makes success inevitable. Get on the waitlist here! >>> https://www.mentalgymforequestrians.com/waitlist