Building Mental Fortitude by Overcoming Small Fears for Fun
Question: "Greg, Why do you do it?"
Answer: It's fun. It interests me. I grow with challenges and wilt without them.
At 01:03-01:53 in the video, I began a traverse (horizontal movement on the rock face) across the west face to get to the vertical approach of the south summit. This was only one of four spots in the six-hour climb where I had to battle back fear to make the next move. It began with having to down-climb 4 feet to the traverse route. Down-climbing is the most difficult for me because I can't see footholds, and moving my body weight down the rock face makes it harder to stop my body's momentum.
From 02:09 to 02:33, you witness my hesitation to commit to the next hold. Trad climbing challenges mental fortitude. Here is the conversation I was having with myself:
Thought: Downclimbing has forced my focus on how far the earth is below me.
Counter thought: Any fall over 20 feet is fatal. So, it doesn't matter how many stories above the ground I am.
Thought: I have watched many videos of people falling in these exact situations and all of the gear zippering out of the rockface as they and their rope bounce off the rockface and hit the ground.
Counter Thought: I watched those videos to learn how they misused the gear and can see that I am using it correctly. Trust the equipment.
Thought: I have my fingers in this rock; it feels secure, but I can't move. If I make the next move, something terrible will happen, and the pain will be real!
Counter Thought: This is one of the reasons you are up here - to build mental fortitude. Trust the gear. Trust your choice of hold. Set aside your fear now, and go!
Thought: If I fall and take a big whipper, it will always be on video.
Counter thought: Well, that will make a great sermon illustration!
Trad rock climbing often involves navigating challenging routes that can only be completed by staying calm under pressure, trusting your equipment, and engaging your mental fortitude to make the next move to get you to the summit!
I encourage you to take on occasional, unnecessary challenges (which suit you) to facilitate personal growth in ways your routine does not promote.
©2023 Greg McNichols, All rights reserved.