What Rock Climbing Teaches Us About Personal Transformation

by | May 16, 2020 | Misc

When we are looking to transform our own life, sometimes our greatest teacher can be found by simply looking around us. 

Spending time in nature – specifically when I’m rock climbing, is one aspect of my life that has held countless lessons; oftentimes these lessons are subtle, yet hold significant value. 

One off-the-beaten-path known as Eagle Peak here in San Diego, has brought me the reflections I’ll share with you in this post. I often find that my climbs at Eagle Peak offer similar challenges that one faces when they begin using affirmations.

Sometimes, you need to gain perspective through accessing new heights. Here are three climbing metaphors to remember as you embark on your own personal transformation journey through affirmations.

  1. Don’t be afraid to come back to the drawing board.

Marie Forleo, a well-known life coach and motivational speaker, offers the wisdom: “The key to success is to start before you are ready.” 

In rock climbing, sometimes the foothold breaks on the very first bolt and it’s beyond clear that you need to come down and start from square one. However, there is no way to know that until you get on the route – you can’t gain this experience from the ground!

Similar to an affirmation practice in the sense that you may begin using affirmations only to quickly realize you are not utilizing them in a way that serves you; whether that be the affirmations you have chosen do not resonate with you, you don’t know how to keep yourself accountable, or you have a hard time staying consistent. That doesn’t mean your system is broken, it just means it’s time to come back to “the ground,” so to speak, and re-evaluate. 

  1. You may feel lost at times (and that’s okay). 

Sometimes along a rock climbing route you will come to a crossroads: Should you take route A or B? There are downfalls that come with either choice. Yet, you have made it this far and still have to make a decision to continue on. 

When it comes to making a decision, we suffer the most when we agonize over what could have been. 

Just as with your affirmation practice, you will fall off course and make mistakes, but that is no reason to abandon the route entirely. 

The path of personal transformation is not linear, sometimes leaving you feeling lost when you are zoomed in on what is right in front of you. Know that whatever choice you make, you can turn into a meaningful result. 

  1. The route is never entirely clear, keep going anyway – you may be surprised by how far you can go.

Sometimes you see a route where no clear answer is apparent. Yet as we have touched on, it seems that clarity is only found through doing. The other option would be to shut down and make no choice at all, which will not likely yield the results you are looking for. 

The upside to this unclear journey is that you are free to enjoy the surprises it will bring. 

As it is with rock climbing, the experience of the route itself will likely be far more interesting than how it appeared from a ground level. Perhaps there are more obstacles, but also more unexpected pleasantries than you what you imagined. 

When you reach the top of your climb, you’ll be amazed not only by the view, but by how much strength you surprised yourself with on the way up. 

The same goes for the progress you make with affirmations. You may look back a year from now and be in awe of just how far you have come. 

Everything is perspective. The mirages of life are boundless. The only way to know is to step forward. Anything less will forever be in doubt. 

With ❤️ 

Jon

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