One Step at a Time
I went ziplining at an adventure obstacle course over the weekend. As we were gearing up, it started to sink in what I had really signed up for. You get a 30-minute safety briefing, but then that's it. There you are on the podium, staring down at the ground far below. Standing high above the ground, I realized that the more I thought about everything that could go wrong, the more distracted I could become and potentially hurt myself. My mind became laser-focused on the task at hand. First, make sure the equipment is put on correctly. Second, figure out the best way to start the obstacle. Third, start. This initially felt strange because I tend to overthink everything. Learning something quickly and then just doing it felt very far out of my comfort zone.
Surprisingly, the more I tackled each obstacle, the faster I completed the second step: figuring out how to approach it. At first, it seemed impossible just by looking at it. It was when my foot made contact with the wood or rope that my brain was able to comprehend that yes, it was possible to get to the other side. I also found that the quicker I moved, the easier it was. It took less effort to balance if I didn’t spend too much time worrying about moving too fast and falling.
Unhooking myself from the podium and re-clipping to the zipline, I realized that many of the skills I was learning could be applied to life. Sometimes, when trying something new, it's tempting to just stay on the podium. With feet securely on the ground, there is no risk. But if I had stayed on the podium, I would have melted in the heat and missed out on the fun. Yes, the podium felt the safest, but the times I had the most fun were when I was zipping from one platform to another. I felt alive and free.
The scariest part was just standing there, looking down. But once I squatted down for one of the zips and realized that the ropes would hold my weight, it became much less scary to push off. I couldn't help but relate that to my life as well. Often, I panic and doubt whether I’ll be able to take on a new client or try something new. But then I lean into it and realize that I have the equivalent of a zipline harness inside me. I have a lot of knowledge and can think on my feet. I also recognize that I am much stronger and smarter than I give myself credit for.
As humans, we aren’t made to gear up and stand on a podium. Our minds sometimes get in the way, and with social media, there is more pressure than ever to be perfect at whatever we set out to do. But just like my experience on that shaky wooden bridge, sometimes you just have to take that first step and trust yourself to know what to do. You might fall, but you might also surprise yourself by how well you do, just learning what to do along the way.
Author: Jenni Chute, MA, MT-BC
Editor: Cassadi Kulak, MT-BC