Ever felt like you have been fighting a losing battle? Yeah me neither, except this feeling is all too common and too familiar among millennials today. Whenever I am having a tough time trying to solve a problem, I think of the most unlikely situations in which I had never expected to overcome.
Unlike some of my friends, I have never been the type to be the most outdoorsy. Though I appreciate the beauty of mother nature and its soothing presence over the years, being one with nature is a language I do not speak very well. However, I never turn the opportunity to be outside, bond with friends, and unlock my adventurous personality (mom, stop laughing). Such was my enthusiasm when a friend had invited me to be first-time volunteer for rock climbing, as part of an exam for rock climbing instructors.
I remember feeling the excitement when my friend had fastened all the gear which was strapped to a rock. We would have to repel all the way down with the guidance of our instructor and work our way up. However, either I had failed to ask inquire or understand rock climbing, but that I had to climb the whole rock mountain after repelling, was breaking news to me.
Once I had reached to the bottom of the mountain, all I heard was “you need to climb back up.” Feeling shook, it was as though someone had told me that I could only eat celery for my entire life. Perspiring my face off and with a heartbeat going as fast as New Yorkers going about their hustle and bustle, I proceeded to reach out to pockets of space the mountain would allow me to hold (jugs) and position my foot in whatever I could find fitting.
With a scary amount of thoughts going on in my mind, I would pause to think if I should just ask the instructor to hoist me up. Maybe I should have done so, but maybe it was some weird feeling in me that this climb was a climb worth trying. My attempt to climb up was looking as though I had made some sort of progress, but that very thought was about to be tested. When I reached out for a certain jug but missed, the rope that was holding me swung my body a little too close for comfort towards into the mountain-hitting my knee in the process.
Holding back some tears and feeling more tired than frustrated, I paused for a short moment, and proceeded to climb up the rocks. Fortunately, as I continued to do it a slower and more calculative manner, I found myself near the top. With one last hoist of what strength I had left, I reached my arm up to the instructor and found myself on solid ground.
Achievement never felt more real than it did in that moment. I made it despite my initial horror and fears. Because I chose to believe in a better version of myself.
With this story, I know that simply just believing in yourself is not enough. This thinking and analogy needs to be practiced, applied and utilized in order to ensure you really do believe in yourself. The fear of failure can hold you captive, but if you choose to challenge and continuously pursue success for yourself, you may be just be surprised with what you find.
petiteshark 