"The best way out is always through" (Robert Frost)

Overcoming our challenges

 

I participated in an adventure course with my colleagues recently, and learned a lot about myself through the experience. 

 

Doing an adventure course with my colleagues was a great experience for a number of reasons - our support of each other, our patience with each other, and the shared knowledge that we could overcome each of the challenges, and get through.

Especially by the time we reached the final zip wire, and were cheering each other on. I imagine it will also give us a shared language of experience that we might be able to use back in the office, and to see each other in a different light.

 

Before I started the course, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but with each course, my confidence in my ability, and my self-belief grew. Initially, each challenge was difficult, and some seemed insurmountable, but by the third time I had done the zip wire, I was even starting to enjoy it - I had developed a technique through repetition, it seemed familiar, and I knew what to look out for (e.g. that the landing area was clear), and I could even start to relax and to look around me. 

I learned that for me the best way to land was not to face forwards and try to stand and land running, but to slide in sideways and slow myself down by dragging my heels. On the last one, I even discovered that I could control what I thought I could not (the direction I was going to face when landing) - by exerting pressure to turn my body to shift direction.  

 

Twice we were presented with the choice of the moderate or the extreme route, and I'm pleased to be able to say that each time I decided to stretch myself and chose the extreme route. And I made it, each time. Once, I was even able to call back to a colleague who was starting out on the extreme option, to share what I had done to get through it myself, so it really was a team effort, even though when it came down to it, we each had to overcome the obstacles by ourselves.

 

I am glad I stuck with it, even though I had several opportunities to change my mind, to choose not to participate and even begin the course. It took patience, courage and strengths of reserve I did not know I had. I have previously found similar obstacle courses quite difficult, and I can see now that the attitude I brought to the situation, and the decision to take each course one step at a time, to remind myself I only had to reach the next platform, meant that not only did I make it through, but that I even began to enjoy the challenges. I remember thinking that one day hence I would like to look back and remember that I was exhilarated and excited, rather than anxious and tense. It made me think about the future at the same time as I was in the present moment, which allowed me to fully focus on the now.

 

I took so much from the course; remembering to use the right clips to attach myself to the safety line helped anchor me to the present moment, and gave me something familiar to do, no matter which obstacle I was facing, and this week I have even found myself beginning to visualise challenges in light of the obstacles - using them as a metaphor, and seeing myself in my mind's eye, completing the obstacle, one step at a time, and then asking myself how I can get through to the other side. The obstacle course leads you along the route, and all you have to do is take the next step.

 

And the main thing I learned from the course?

 

I am strong enough for this step.

 

Lynn