Conroe Dog Show & Psychological Flexibility
The Conroe Dog Show is a whirlwind of activity for me. As a club member, I bear the responsibility of ensuring everything runs smoothly. While the competition area is generally quiet and distraction free, the demands of my role can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, I decided to enter my dog, Dolly, in rally and obedience.
On the day of the show, doubts crept in once again. I anticipated a stressful day and wanted to prevent my anxiety from transferring down the leash to Dolly. However, several unexpected issues arose, making the day feel rushed. Unfortunately, I couldn't provide my usual warm-up routine for Dolly before entering the ring. I could see her concern; without our typical preparation, she seemed unsettled. Our performance suffered due to my handling mistakes and her own errors. With the obedience ring looming in just a few hours, it was clear that a change was needed.
How Did I Improve? The Role of Psychological Flexibility
Accepting my emotions and practicing psychological flexibility, influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), played a crucial role in my approach. ACT encourages individuals to detach from their thoughts, recognizing that distorted interpretations can lead to unnecessary stress. That day, I noticed my inclination to believe my thoughts were the absolute truth. The prevailing thought—that the event was going poorly, that we were behind schedule, and that it was a disaster—was simply not accurate. In reality, everything was fine! My expectation of a "perfect day" was unrealistic, and dwelling on that false narrative only heightened my stress.
Recognizing this distorted thinking and treating it as untrue was crucial. Rather than succumbing to anxiety, I chose to focus on warming up with Dolly. We took a quick walk, engaged in some games, and I took a moment to breathe deeply. This new clarity helped me remain calm as we entered the obedience ring.
Despite my earlier challenges, Dolly and I enjoyed ourselves immensely, culminating in a commendable 2nd place finish with a great score.
This ability to detach from distressing thoughts allowed me to identify the source of my anxiety. Letting go of the misconception that the day was going poorly liberated me from undue pressure, promoting a more relaxed state that improved our performance in the ring.
Building Psychological Flexibility
So far, we have explored two components of ACT’s model of psychological flexibility: Acceptance and Detachment from Thoughts. Acceptance encourages us to embrace our emotions without resistance, while detachment helps us view our thoughts from a different perspective. Cultivating a flexible mindset can significantly reduce anxiety over time, but it's important to remember that it is a skill which requires practice.
Stay tuned for more reflections on cultivating psychological flexibility—through the lens of ACT and the lessons learned from the rally ring.
Author: Lydia J.
