Athena the Brave Horse - Anxiety Metaphor Script

The early morning sun peeps over the horizon, shining straight across the meadow, illuminating the long grasses in a gentle yellow and orange glow.

Leaves blow on the trees in what little breeze there is on this still day. This meadow is home to Athena, a beautiful brown horse with a black mane and tail.

Her name stands for the Greek goddess of wisdom and war - this could not feel further from the truth for her.

She stands with her head hanging low, staring at the ground. She finds it difficult knowing that another new day is ahead of her, another day of feeling anxious, alone and scared.

A knot begins to form in her tummy: it's a feeling so deep within her that it moves from side to side, growing in intensity and strength.

She swallows down hard in the hope it relieves this all too familiar feeling. Unfortunately, it doesn't help. It just seems to build stronger the more she focuses on it.

She finds herself standing, sheltering against the bushes at the edge of the meadow, trying to find safety in what seems a huge, overwhelming world.

Athena is a shy horse and in her young years, has never felt confident or brave, but she so longs to be. Her shoulders slump, her heart feels heavy, she would love to be brave enough to leave the meadow one day.

She has seen a beautiful stream and a field of flowers in the distance, but her anxiety has prevented her venturing that far. She hasn't wanted to leave the safety of the meadow and all she's familiar with.

Everything feels so scary that she has just shut down and spends her days feeling trapped in her own mind and body. Her tummy is in turmoil, and she's so worried she might be sick, she so dreads being sick because she was once before and now that's all she can think about. But today is going to be the best day of her life; she just doesn't know it yet.

Suddenly her ears prick up - someone's coming. Hooves thunder towards her, she finds herself becoming even more anxious.

Who's there? Approaching her is a big, shiny black horse with a mane that's flowing behind him like a dark river. He almost bowls Athena over in excitement.

'My name is Thor, the protection horse, who are you?' Athena is intimidated by his grand stature and shyly responds with her name.

As they continue to chat, Athena notices her tummy has become more settled and calmer - she's enjoying this connection and conversation with Thor.

He tells her stories of how he has been a guard horse and a riot horse, so brave and strong.

He sees himself in Athena, how he once was. He really wants to help her to feel better, so he gets her to imagine courage building inside herself, like a ball of light growing and growing, becoming brighter and stronger.

Starting right at the centre of her body and glowing outwards, warming every part of her, every muscle, bone and nerve, until she becomes completely full of this healing, warming light.

Breathing in slowly and steadily, creating calmness and confidence. With every breath, she notices her shoulders are pulling back, her head instinctively lifts, allowing her to stand tall for the very first time.

His presence really makes her feel strong, safe, happy and above all else, brave. She no longer feels self-doubt, and her confidence grows with every minute.

She tells him how she's longed to go to the stream and see the flowers.

‘What's stopping you?’ Thor asks. At this moment right now, she doesn't know.

She feels compelled to go and explore further, she starts to make her way steadily at first but gaining momentum and courage, she starts to canter, then gallop.

Thor’s supporting presence by her side. Any feelings that had been inside her tummy have been replaced by excitement and courage.

She's free from the limiting beliefs she had placed on herself.

Brave to explore the amazing world she had been missing out on. She hears the gentle flow of the stream, so close now.

Keen to immerse her hooves, she wades into the water. It is so cleansing and calming.

She takes a drink of the cooling liquid. It soothes all the way down to her tummy, she knows that every sip allows her to feel balanced and calm.

Thor suggests that she imagines all her negative feelings and beliefs are being released into the stream, cleansing her mind, body and soul.

She notices all the unhelpful feelings flow out of her into the water and wash away downstream, drifting further away from her, allowing room for all the new positive feelings she's experienced in this short time with Thor.

She feels her body radiate with calmness, confidence and happiness.

The stream truly had been the awakening she needed. It's soothing powers have transformed her deep within.

Next, she explores the flowers, every imaginable color, purple, red, pink, blue and yellow.

This variety is magical compared to the plain grass of the meadow.

She sniffs each one gently, they all have their own unique aroma. Allowing the floral scents to fill her lungs, calming her further.

The softness of the stems brushes her legs, helping to gently sweep away any last remaining negativity that resides on the surface of her body.

The anxieties of the morning seem a distant memory. She's not the Athena that woke up earlier but a new, braver, happier version of herself.

She knows she can carry this newfound strength into her daily life. All she needs to do is imagine the ball of warm light within her, growing and guiding her safely into her future.

Feeling stronger and more resilient every day, she is safe to express herself, brave to explore new things and happy to her core. This is the new Athena, ready to face the world, and embrace life and live up to her name.