How to Climb Mountains: My big adventures and how I make them happen

Happy New Year!

I left you all a few months ago with some words of wisdom around the adage “slow down to go faster” as I was wrapping up the end of a hectic two years. I believe I also left you saying that "I now feel recharged and up for the next challenge. I’m ready to get back into it- whatever that might be. I feel clear, supported, motivated, and dare I say, comfortable (uh oh! That’s a dangerous word!)".

So... Bring it! 
Bring what, exactly?
Stay tuned ;-)

In the meantime, I want to share with you a presentation that I gave to my colleagues in late 2016. I feel it's an appropriate time to share my experiences and motivations as many people kick-off their New Year Resolutions (something that I never do; why should goals only be for January?!).

Enjoy!

I recognize that there are people who are entirely happy and content with what they have today. Appreciative of their circumstances and how they have arrived at them.

And to those of you reading this, here is a series of pretty pictures.

However, if you are a dreamer, go-getter, dabbler or achiever, I hope that you leave today feeling more energetic to go after that thing you’ve been thinking about doing for some time.

I’m going to share with you today my experiences of climbing mountains… why I started and how I make it happen, leaving you with 3 “principles” that help me to get out there. 

Perspective is a good tool to have, and one I employ usually to help me make the best of situations. Introspectively, it's probably my go-to tool in most aspects of my life. The Cambridge Dictionary suggests perspective can be a particular way of consideration or to think of a situation or problem in a wise and reasonable way. Tangibly, perspective is also comparative, regarding different proportions of two things. I use perspective to assess my gaps, determine my goals, and appreciate my progress. I might even go so far to say it is my framework.

Achiever from the Gallup StrengthsFinder point of view: a constant need for achievement. By the end of the day I must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about myself. Your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused. But it will always be with you. This is the WHY I do these challenges. Sometimes completing that spreadsheet on time is enough, other times just making it to the gym quiets that whisper. But what I find is that every so often, I need to go big!

So KNOW YOURSELF: know what makes you tick and find a healthy way to engage that whisper or urge.

RECOGNIZE: that maybe you don’t have such notions or niggles. Rather, you have thoughts or dreams you think would be “nice” one day.  If this is the case, then grant yourself permission to step towards those thoughts and dreams instead of keeping them as such.

If you aren’t an achiever, you can still climb mountains (quite practically as a colleague said to me: you just put one foot in front of the other) and repeat over and over and over again. The point is choose to move forwards rather than sit still.

If you choose feats that interest you, you will. You don’t need to be able- now.

England (or wherever you may be) IS beautiful (vs. some parts of Canada- a place many think is the most beautiful in the world). We must be appreciative of the circumstances we are physically in, in this moment. But there are more relaxing, inspiring, energetic (choose adjective) places to visit and live than wherever you are in the moment. The point is, unless you open your mind, you won’t know.

Open your mind to possibilities and you can entertain the ideas of different.

Then assess for yourself what is best for your life.

Geographically. Psychologically- meaning self assess if you are happy with your current life (know yourself), and then Open Your Mind to ways in which you can make it a little (or a lot) better.

And sometimes these two can combine to give you the ultimate sense of perspective… Standing on the top of the tallest mountain in Africa and realising that you ARE capable when the last 7 hours/ days/ months of your life have been a challenge. 

That’s another reason why I do this… I find being on the top of the land gives me ultimate perspective.

Just a note:

Opening your mind implies that you are ACTIVELY looking outwards to gain experience and perspective. It puts the onus on you! Being open-minded, I find is sometimes negatively put-on-you. It is receptive… you are in a situation you are uncomfortable with and a coach/ partner/ managers “urges” you to be open-minded about it… essentially asking you to agree with their perspective. 

By knowing yourself (recognizing your whims), opening your mind to think beyond where you are in the moment you can now ACTIVELY seek out growth or enriching experiences. OR acknowledge that where you are today is just fine.

Why not give that new idea/ activity/ experience a try?

Unless it’s illegal, then why do you think you shouldn’t ?

Can’t? Just put one foot in front of the other.

Will do it later?  There might not be later.

It's cliche, I know to say there might not be later; however, it's absolutely true. Stop procrastinating and either accept your situation or TRY and make a start.

In summary these principles cover the "why" to "how" I get caught up in these experiences. Why, because I know myself and know that I need this sense of achievement and action in my life. By opening my mind, I understand why I do these challenges. By opening my mind, I can consider numerous ways to move from where I am today (how). How do I make these experiences happen? Well quite frankly, I just get stuck in.

And finally, one of the most rewarding aspects of going out there and achieving such goals, however small or large, is being able to share the experience and the journey with those you love. Most certainly in the moment, with my partner in play and partner in life, Robin, and then outwardly  and reminiscently with you.