I apologize for being missing in action for the last month and half; I usually try to keep a regular schedule of articles pumping for everyone. A lot has been happening within our practice; notice I used the term “our” instead of “my”. I have recently expanded my solo practice into a private practice group and branded ourselves as “The Peak Counseling Group.” My business partners and I have taken our love of rock climbing and incorporated it into our private practice, as well as our personal lives. There are so many articles out there that use rock climbing as an analogy of life; I wrote one myself a while ago. At this point, I’m still considered a novice climber but I have learned so much during this journey to the peak. I wanted to share some of these lessons with you readers out there, in hopes that something I say may resonate with you and you can begin your own journey towards personal empowerment. So here it goes…
Take risks every once in a while. I’m referring to well thought out, educated risks. Living within the confines of conventionality is definitely secure but it doesn’t always make room for personal growth. In climbing, there is a technique called a “dyno”, which is short for “dynamic”. Basically a dynamic move is jumping up and grabbing hold of the next rock face, which would otherwise be out of reach. The move is risky, because there’s a chance you may end up falling (don’t worry; there are several safety precautions in place that allow us to take that risk with minimal injury). Taking risks can be scary, even terrifying, but wow. Can you imagine that sense of accomplishment when you succeed and pushed yourself to do something you never thought you were able to do? These risks could be things like: asking a woman out who you never think would give you the time of day; going back to school as a middle aged adult; perhaps even something as simple as sitting alone at a restaurant to have lunch. Try it: I challenge you to do a “dyno” in some area of your life.
Speaking of falling, sometimes falling can be a good thing. I’ve recently been working on improving my climbing skills, which happens to include learning to fall off the wall safely. Can I just tell you how absolutely terrifying that is? Yes, there is the safety of the rope that secures me from falling to my ultimate doom, but that doesn’t make it any less scary. “How can falling be a good thing,” you may ask? Well, it can definitely build resiliency of character. The more it happens, the less terrifying it becomes. The less fear you have means more courage, which will allow you to take those risks that develop personal growth. Take for example, saying “I love you” to a partner for the first time. There is no guarantee that he or she will say it back, or worse yet, they say “I don’t feel the same way about you.” That can be scary, for sure! But like that rope that keeps me safe when I fall, you have the safety of your friends and family who can support you through this potential rejection, this emotional “fall.” Even though it’s scary and that fall may hurt, recognize that you remained true to your character and that you were courageous enough to be vulnerable to another human being. Vulnerability is such a powerful testament to a person’s strength.
Remember to pack sunscreen. In other words, be prepared. When you have a goal in mind, take some time to plan out how you can reach that goal. The best laid plans can sometimes optimize your results. Although there is a certain amount of joy in the act of spontaneity, you can prevent being unnecessarily burned when you are properly prepared on how to reach your goal.
Don’t get discouraged. In climbing, there are times we make mistakes and we just can’t make it up to the peak. Maybe I wasn’t prepared; maybe I’m not a strong enough climber yet to make it up that particular route, or maybe I was just too scared to go higher. Whatever the reason may be, this doesn’t mean that all my efforts were wasted. Mistakes are meant to be learning opportunities. Take these lessons and apply them to your second attempt; sometimes we may even need to make a third attempt. Or even a fourth attempt. Just don’t let those negative thoughts discourage you from reaching your goal.
Remember to take in your surroundings. Sometimes I get so focused on reaching the peak of that rock that I forget to take in the magnificence of the view around me. I really hate clichés, but it’s true: “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” Be mindful of where you are at in each moment of your life. There is joy in watching your child play quietly by himself; savoring that delicious cup of coffee in the morning before you start your day. Take time to experience these moments in time before you rush off to pay bills or hop on the computer to meet a work deadline. Each moment is fleeting and you may not have the opportunity to experience it again.
Life lessons continue to be part of my journey in the sport of rock climbing; I’m hoping that you readers out there may find the opportunity to meet one of us at The Peak Counseling Group to start your own path towards reaching your highest potential.