Remembering the Victories

In light of our recent discussion about doing the "work" in our lives and on our selves from a place of love, I think it is important to remember the victories. It's helpful to remember our successes and use them as evidence for why we should keep climbing our mountains in life.

I was climbing the Middle Teton in Grand Teton National park with Marc. Every mountain I have climbed has taught me about my strengths and weaknesses. (Note: I have learned a lot about my weaknesses!) Mountains remind me of my humanity. My fears. How big the mountain is versus how small I am. For me it’s often a case of “I think I can, I think I can.” Only, I actually don’t think I can but I am hoping that if I say it enough I will start to believe it!

This trip to the Tetons was different. I knew I could. I was feeling strong and having fun. I was working hard but I felt powerful and unstoppable. I will never forget that feeling. It was a feeling I had been chasing. Many mountains have received tears of my frustration and pain. This mountain received tears of my joy and empowerment.

"The Rock Warrior's Way" by Arno Ilgner is one of my favorite books about both how to climb better and how to lives our lives better. The book essentially talks about mental training and the power of our mind to make us better at climbing or whatever it is we are trying to be better at. One of my many favorite concepts from the book is, "All the training in the world will have minimal benefit to you if you don't give yourself room to believe."

When I am teaching a power or vigorous yoga class and we are doing something hard or new, I always ask the students to first imagine it. Can we do the pose in our imaginations? I find that for some people it is hard to even just imagine it. If we can't see ourselves doing it in our minds when we don't actually have to do anything, how are we to ever actually do it?

A Sanskrit saying comes to mind. "Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoho." As the mind, so the man; bondage or liberation are in your own mind.

That is why it is important to me to remember the victories. If I have successes to remind myself of then I can believe in my ability to reach the summit, to kiss the summit marker, and to shed that tear of victory!

I think I can I think I can...

In climbing there is a lot of mental challenges... in fact, even though climbers are generally pretty strong physically, what sets a good climber apart from an average climber is their ability to control their mind. (Yay Yoga!) Of course, it is a daily practice jut like yoga. Perhaps some people are naturally clear headed, but for most of us each day is a new challenge. Each climb is a new quest. Success is not necessarily easily determined. It is not always about the summit or even the completion of a climb, sometimes its about the lessons learned. Lessons about what we are capable of, lessons about climbing technique perhaps, lessons about what our thoughts do when we are under stress... I think that is an interesting effort in self-study. When I am scared and hanging by a fingernail on the edge of a cliff, what am I telling myself? Is it "I can do this?" Or is it "I can't?"

Ok, I'll admit... my self-talk sucks sometimes! I got down off of my first lead in a long time and while I felt good from the successful climb, I noticed that I hadn't done myself any favors. Luckily for me, (or not) I happen to talk to myself out loud while I climb... so I have witnesses! Maybe that will help hold me accountable! 

We think of a lot of excuses: I haven't done this in awhile, I am out of shape, I have the wrong pants, it's too hot, my feet hurt.... can I add "AND I can do it despite all that!" After all, I just did. Take one moment to stop making excuses and just climb.