Lean Into It and Relax
If you were to step off the edge of a cliff backwards, would you find yourself nervous, tensing up, and leaning forward with all your might? That would be my natural reaction too. Yet what I learned on my first canyoneering expedition is that sometimes you must do what is counterintuitive in order to succeed and enjoy the journey.
My partner and I spent a full day canyoneering for the first time in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument recently. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of heights so if someone were to ask me years ago to rappel backwards off a cliff on a rope I would’ve laughed at them. Yet, four years ago when we were in Zion National Park, I saw brochures on canyoneering and really wanted to try it one day. That tiny voice within REALLY wanted to do it. It was the sort of thing that hung in the back of my mind but got discounted by the little voice of excuses saying “I could never do that”.
So, this trip I just took the plunge and booked a trip.
Imagine my surprise as we got geared up for the first descent when our guide explained…once you step over the edge you need to lean way back and relax. Oh yeah, right! I would just love to lean far back into gaping nothingness. Surely the first thing that comes to my mind in that scenario is to relax. Not!
Well you know what? I did it. What seemed so counterintuitive is the very thing that allowed me to learn fast and thrive during this adventure. In fact, if you allow your natural fear based reactions to take control (you know, putting a death grip on the rope, leaning forward, or attempting to keep your feet close together in “baby steps”) – it just doesn’t work. Trust me! I made that mistake too! On one of the descents I was being timid and not leaning back and my feet vanished from beneath me. I hit the wall faster than I could even know what happened. I was stunned. It was a fine lesson in trust though as the gear worked exactly as designed and other than a big bruise and being a bit startled, I was fine. Well, I was hanging about 30 feet above the ground, but truly all was well and we problem solved my way down.
Here’s what I learned – a fearful death grip only leads to limitations and diminishes your experience. Leaning into it and relaxing – even though it seems the LAST thing you might be inclined to do-- gives you tons of freedom, more confidence, and more power over your own journey. That relaxed yet deliberate stance puts you in a position to capitalize on opportunities, make conscious choices, and enjoy the hell out of the journey.
How about you? Have you ever really wanted to do something new but were afraid? When something happens in your life that you don’t want do you find yourself resisting and kicking and screaming? When emotions well up do you try and push them back down and just put on a happy face?
Well, what if you were just able to lean into it, experience it fully, and allow things to unfold as you make conscious choices along the way?
Does that seem counter-intuitive to you?
It certainly always did to me. For many years I filled my days and years with a lot of struggle and fear. I limited my experiences and had a life that left me wanting at every turn. Then I just let go. I released my grip a bit and started allowing myself to ebb and flow with the circumstances that presented themselves. You know what? I learned that struggle is optional. And I found I could actually ENJOY things I would otherwise just have endured.
As clear as could be this day in the desert taught me numerous lessons and truly reinforced on an even bigger scale just how much more I need to lean into things and let go. Believe me when I tell you that when I say you need to lean back I mean WAAAAAYY Back. When I thought I was leaning back as much as I could our guide Rick tapped me on the breast bone to show me what leaning back really meant. It was about letting go, trusting, and being fully present for the journey. It was awesome. I am ready to go back in a heartbeat. I walk away with it as a reminder that in all areas of my life I need to lean into the experience more and then relax.
Are you struggling with something in your life and business that you would like to find much more ease and joy around? Are you tired of stifling that small passionate voice within you that says “I want to do that!” with the voice of self-sabotage and excuses that says “oh, but I can’t”? If you’re ready to know the freedom and success that comes from coupling action with allowing, then contact me today for a complimentary Get Acquainted Session. All it takes is that first step…
