THE FOREST IS SAFE... RIGHT?
There’s something magical about riding through the Ottawa Valley, where the trails wind through dense pine forests, open into fields dotted with wildflowers, and eventually stretch out along the old Algonquin railway line. While I’m thinking, “What a peaceful day,” Brittney is thinking, “Everything is fine, but I’m still keeping an eye on that suspicious looking stump.”
Brittney has been riding these trails for more than twenty years. She knows every turn, every hill, every stretch. She’s steady, experienced, and confident being out there. But even with all that routine and familiarity, she never fully switches off. A bird taking off, a squirrel darting, a leaf blowing into the wrong direction - she notices it all. She doesn’t spook often, it’s more like a quick pause, a raised head, a moment of assessment. She’s calm, but she’s always aware.
Horses are prey animals, and their nervous systems are built for constant scanning. Research on equine neurobiology shows that their amygdala, the part of the brain that identifies danger, stays alert even in familiar environments. It’s not fear; it’s vigilance and instinct.
And Here’s the Human Parallel…
We do this too, just in our own human way. We walk into situations that are objectively safe, a meeting, a conversation, a new project, and our bodies sometimes react as if we’re stepping into a forest full of predators. A raised eyebrow becomes “Did I say something wrong.” A short email becomes “Something’s off.” A new responsibility becomes “What if I mess this up.” The danger isn’t real, but the physical sensation is: the quickened heartbeat, the tight chest, the little jolt of adrenaline that makes everything feel bigger than it is.
Lesson: Vigilance vs. Overreaction
This one sits right in the middle. A little vigilance is healthy. Too much vigilance becomes limiting.
Here’s what Brittney taught me:
Awareness is good. Leaders should scan the environment, anticipate risks, and stay tuned in.
But constant hypervigilance narrows your field of view. You miss opportunities, creativity, and the beauty of the moment.
Your first reaction isn’t always the right one. Sometimes it’s just old programming trying to keep you safe.
Calm leadership creates calm teams. When I relax on Brittney’s back, she settles. Humans aren’t that different.
Experience doesn’t erase instinct; it teaches you how to work with it. Brittney still scans the forest, but she keeps walking. That’s wisdom, not fear.
We all have our “forest moments,” situations where our instincts whisper caution even though nothing is actually threatening us. The goal isn’t to shut that instinct down. It’s to understand it, work with it, and not let it run the show.
If Brittney can walk the same trail for twenty years, stay aware, and still enjoy the ride, maybe we can too.