Home   >   Spirit   >   How Rock Climbing Helped Me To Understand Being “Present”

How Rock Climbing Helped Me To Understand Being “Present”

By on June 27, 2014
female rock climber struggles to reach her next grip as she battles her way up a steep cliff

By Bethann Muise Coombs

I love to read. Specifically, I love to read books that I can learn from. If you share my passion for self help books, you are familiar with the terms “being present”.  Being present is defined as an experience when you are completely focused on this very moment.

There are many ways you can become “present”.  It’s really about training your attention so that you can use it as a tool to focus on what is happening in the moment. 

With all of the information available on how to live your best life, I’ve yet to find one source that does NOT value “being present” in order to find your true path. 

Ok, so I get that I shouldn’t dwell in the past but instead accept that my choices have led to this moment.  Be grateful for lessons learned and let go of the rest.  

My difficulties with being “present” arise in conjunction with my plans for the future.  How can I set and work towards amazing goals that will have me move beyond what I know, what is familiar, and still be “present” in the moment?

If you knew me, you’d understand that I prefer things cut and dried.  I like sequential order, as in c follows b, follows a.  My mind was a cluttered mess as I tried to make sense of the two concepts and really, I didn’t know where to begin until lightning struck!

I remembered an experience I’d had while on a cruise with my family.  There was a rock climbing wall and I couldn’t wait to try it!  I was positive that I would reach the top easily and felt no fear as I looked way up at the prize.

I put my harness on, grabbed the rocks in front of me and began climbing.  I knew not to look down, as this was fairly common advice and I adhered to it well.  I kept my gaze upward.

I reached the halfway point and suddenly, I couldn’t move.  My heart began racing, my breath became short and I knew that I was beginning to panic.  I told myself that there was no way I’d ever make it to the top and I gave up.

When I reached the safety of the deck, I told my husband that looking up was my downfall.  All I could focus on was how far away from the top I was and I couldn’t see how I would get there.  It seemed impossible.

You may have guessed where I am going with this.

Our aspirations and goals are important.  They provide us with something to work towards.  We need to spend time thinking about them, visualizing them in fabulous detail and then let them go.  

We need to trust that we will reach them in the time and in the way that the Universe sees fit.

Focus on the here and now, taking actions in the things that will move us in the direction of our goals.  Be “present” in each moment so that we don’t miss signs and opportunities that will help us reach our goals.

Be “present” in each moment so that we will not get overwhelmed at the enormity of our ultimate goals and feel the successes of the little goals we reach in order to get there.

Sometimes when we focus too much on the end result, we allow fear, self-doubt and other negative thoughts to creep in and make a home.

We stay, too much, in our heads wishing for our dreams but not taking enough action.

If, while rock climbing, I had focused on where my hands would grab the rocks next and never looked past my next move, I believe that I would have made it to the top.  I realize that I wouldn’t have become so overwhelmed at the task if I had only kept my gaze on the next move.

I understand, now, how I can make goals for my future, believe it with all of my heart, let it go and STILL achieve them!  I hope that my story helps you to understand as well!

Namaste

 

61374_10152226802281221_846664429_nBethann Muise Coombs is a daughter, a mother, a wife and a  life-long learner who is enrolled as an Empowerment Coach in training with SWAT.  Her purpose is to live an authentic life, her mission is to help other women do the same. 

About simply...woman!

We encourage spreading the message of knowledge and wisdom. We appreciate and thank our featured partners for their articles. All information provided on Simply…Woman online magazine is for reference only; the content is based on the authors’ experiences and therefore is not intended as a substitute to the services of a fully qualified professional. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Simply…Woman makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information.