#187 Does Gratitude Make You Soft?

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I’ll shoot you straight—this isn’t a fluffy episode about sunshine, rainbows, and “just be thankful.”

This is about a tension riders quietly wrestle with all the time:

If I practice gratitude… will I lose my edge?

One of my riders asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:

“Nicole, does gratitude make me less ambitious?”

Maybe you’ve felt that tug too. If you loosen your grip, will you start settling? If you let yourself breathe, does that mean you don’t want it badly enough anymore?

In this episode, we peel that apart.

Because the real cost of riding without gratitude isn’t that you’ll suddenly go soft—it’s that you burn yourself out chasing harder, faster, never-enough.

And the cost of riding without ambition? Drifting. Coasting. Riding smaller than you and your horse are capable of.

Neither feels good.

But together? Gratitude and ambition can fuel you in a way that steadies your seat, calms your nervous system, and keeps your fire lit for the long haul.

If you’ve ever braced your body in the saddle from sheer dissatisfaction, or felt that hamster wheel spin of “never enough,” this episode is going to give you clarity—and maybe the freedom—you’ve been looking for.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your community. I’d love to hear what lands for you. And if this podcast has helped you, leaving a quick review on iTunes helps more riders find this work.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

Why gratitude isn’t the enemy of ambition—it’s the anchor that steadies it
The difference between “gratitude as a cop-out” and “gratitude as fuel”
How some riders accidentally use “I’m just grateful…” to avoid discomfort and growth
How to practice thankfulness without lowering your bar, losing your fire, or going soft on your goals
The difference between riding from dissatisfaction vs. riding from grounded drive
How gratitude can purify your ambition instead of watering it down
Practical ways to be deeply grateful for where you are and still hungry for more

Questions I Answer:

Does gratitude actually make riders less ambitious?
What really happens in your body when you ride from dissatisfaction?
How can gratitude improve your performance instead of dulling it?
What does ambition look like when it’s fueled by gratitude instead of fear?

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor

Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.

👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/

🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy

The confidence to win so you ride like you belong.

👉 https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy

🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians

Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.

👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/

🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips

Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.

👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/

This conversation isn’t about choosing gratitude or ambition—it’s about learning to ride with both. Because the truth is, when you ground yourself in gratitude, you actually free up the energy to chase harder, ride clearer, and enjoy the ride more along the way.

Nicole