Once again, I did not make time to go climbing. Notice my phrasing there, it wasn’t that I didn’t have time to go climbing, it is that I did not make time. And I am getting frustrated with myself which absolutely cannot be healthy. I am feeling this way because I feel as though I am so far behind on where I thought I was going to be. This is an issue, not because I feel behind, but that I think there is a place to be behind in. I set this goal myself, it is not a race, and progress is most certainly not linear. So, this week I am changing my not-so-great mindset and developing strategies to help me get to my goal.

Below is a mind map of strategies and solutions for the struggles I am having with my climbing.

Anxiety.

I tend to overthink just about everything. My plan is to go into my next session with almost an I don’t care attitude, but in a safe way. I want to go through my next session not thinking about the ‘what if’s’

• What if I fall?
  • Then you fall.
• What if the rope doesn’t catch me?
  • These ropes are literally strong enough to hold up semi-trucks.
• What if the belay device fails?
  • This almost never happens. And when it does, it is the belayers mishalding that usually causes it. Your belayer has a brain in their skull, you trust them.

What if, What if, What if… None of these thoughts are going to benefit me in anyway. I hope to use a mind of matter mentality to conquer these anxieties.

Performance.

A gentle reminder that NO ONE CARES is always beneficial. In sports and exercise there is this toxic mentality that everyone is watching you and if you’re not the best everyone is judging you. This is so far from the truth, especially in climbing. If anything, everyone there is there to cheer you on, no one cares if your climbing 5.8 or 5.12 except for you. For next session I am going to tell myself that no one cares, and if I tried to climb harder than what I am capable of, I will hurt myself. I am going to try, because that is all I can do and I will not get any better if I just sitting around and mope about it.

Mindset.

My mindset has been so fixed when it has come to climbing. I need to develop a growth mindset if I want to improve. If I continue think I cannot do it, that is the way it will stay. No professional athlete ever has gotten far by saying “I can’t do it” or “I am not good enough”. And I am aware that I am not working toward becoming a professional, but I do have a personal goal, it’s just as important to me. For next session, to be more intentional about my mindset I am going to start each climb by saying “I can do hard things”. Almost as a way to force myself into a growth mindset.

Commitment.

I mean this in every sense of the word, next week is the last inquiry post and I want to fully commit to each and every aspect to my next session. This means I am going to making time to go climbing and not using homework as an excuse not to go. I can not get better if I don’t climb. I am not going to hold back on any route or any move no matter how hard or scary it is. Confidence is the key for next session. As someone wise before me said…

“Don’t let your dreams be dreams. Just do it.”

Shia LaBeouf

For Next Week.

Now that I have firm goals set, I need to hold myself accountable. Next session, I too will be doing a vlog for my blog like Jessica did. I am doing this to show my strategies and hold myself to these strategies by filming each portion and each part of my session.