# Misery Is Optional – Redefining Softness, Structure & Anxiety with Mark Rashid & Crissi McDonald | Ep 32 Equine Assisted World

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/equine-assisted-world-with-rupert-isaacson-6332132/misery-is-optional-redefining-softness-structure-anxiety-with-mark-rashid-crissi-mcdonald-ep-32-equine-assisted-world
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/equine-assisted-world-with-rupert-isaacson-6332132/misery-is-optional-redefining-softness-structure-anxiety-with-mark-rashid-crissi-mcdonald-ep-32-equine-assisted-world.md
Podcast: [Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson](https://stenobird.com/podcast/equine-assisted-world-with-rupert-isaacson-6332132)
Published: 2025-07-10T05:02:33+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d0ed17b3
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/d0ed17b3/38eb99f6.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/equine-assisted-world-with-rupert-isaacson-6332132/episodes/misery-is-optional-redefining-softness-structure-anxiety-with-mark-rashid-crissi-mcdonald-ep-32-equine-assisted-world
Duration seconds: 7227

## Resource

In this thought-provoking follow-up episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson reunites with legendary horseman Mark Rashid and clinician-author Crissi McDonald. This time, the conversation shifts deeper into the internal landscapes of both horse and human, exploring what it really means to be soft—without losing structure. From navigating low-level panic and reframing anxiety, to understanding when pressure is productive and when it breaks us, Mark and Crissi offer powerful insights not only for horse people, but for anyone seeking a more peaceful way of being in the world. Broadcasting from Happy Dog Ranch in Colorado, they also share how kindness, community, nature, and play are essential ingredients in creating meaningful transformation. (If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ) ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Paradox of Softness & Anxiety (Starts at 01:00) Why striving for softness can trigger anxiety Mark's pressure scale (0 to 10) and self-regulation in real time How internal tension blocks horse-human communication Speed Bumps and Nervous System Awareness (Starts at 08:00) Crissi explains the compounding stress of modern life Why we don’t need to always be calm—and how to ride the nervous system wave The idea of setting stress aside just long enough to connect When Softness Meets an Unready Horse (Starts at 13:00) What to do when your horse is not in a soft state The art of doing what you can do instead of forcing what you can’t Pressure vs. Anxiety (Starts at 25:00) How pressure can lead to problem-solving, while anxiety leads to shutdown A lesson in reframing stress as “just an event, not an emergency” Why “Misery is Optional” became a clinic motto How We Live Matters (Starts at 31:0…

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