The problem with “just have fun.”

"Just have fun!”

It's the well-meaning advice we hear at the start line, from our friends, instructors, or even whispered to ourselves. But if you're trying to qualify - or chasing a title, a big goal, or just proving something to yourself - that phrase can feel more like pressure than encouragement.

Because here's the unspoken truth:

You do want to have fun … but you also want to Q.

Why "just have fun" can feel frustrating

You care. You've worked hard. You've put in the time, the training, the emotional investment. You've gotten up early, driven for hours, spent money, rearranged your whole weekend around this trial.

So when someone shrugs and says, "Just have fun!" - it can feel dismissive. As if your goals don't matter. As if the outcome shouldn't affect you. As if wanting something deeply is somehow in conflict with enjoying the moment.

That advice often comes from a kind place. But it skips over the nuance. Because when "fun" and "success" feel like they're on opposite ends of the spectrum, you're left feeling like you're failing at both if things go sideways.

Redefining what "fun" really means

Let's get something straight: fun doesn't have to mean lighthearted, goofy, or pressure-free.

Fun can mean fulfilling.

Fun can mean engaged.

Fun can mean in the zone, fully alive and connected with your dog.

And most importantly, fun can mean different things to different people. For some handlers, fun is the process - feeling in sync with their dog and celebrating teamwork. For others, fun is progress — nailing the contact behavior you've been working on, getting one step closer to a title, seeing hard work pay off.

And for many of us, fun means walking off the course knowing, "We did that together. That was us at our best today."

Make fun part of your actual goal

The best way to make "fun" not feel hollow? Make it actionable.

Instead of just telling yourself to have fun, define what fun means to you.

• Does it mean staying present during your run and not spiraling about the last mistake?
• Does it mean trying a new handling choice and feeling proud you committed to it?
• Does it mean laughing with your friends and enjoying the downtime between runs?
• Or does it mean walking away with a ribbon and knowing that it was earned with heart and hustle?

Fun can be the process.

Fun can be the outcome.

Fun can be both.

There is no "right" way to experience joy in your sport. But it's worth remembering: you're allowed to want it to be fun - and still care deeply about the result.

When fun becomes fuel

When we define fun for ourselves, it becomes a source of motivation instead of pressure. It reminds us why we're doing this in the first place. It helps us stay grounded - and rebound faster - when things don't go to plan.

So the next time you hear, "Just have fun," don't brush it off.

Pause. Ask yourself: What would fun look like for me this weekend?

What can I choose, focus on, or reframe to make this feel fulfilling — regardless of the score sheet?

Because your joy matters.

And when fun fuels your mindset instead of fighting it?

That's when things really start to click.