Last Saturday, a group of us took on Tough Mudder for charity. It was the second time I had done one and so whilst I knew what to expect, I also knew what to expect. There was one obstacle in particular that had terrified me last year and held me fixed in place for a good 15 minutes or so. The thought of letting go and falling backwards 8 feet in the muddy, cold water was too much. I of course eventually let go, there was no other way out, and of course it was ok. This year though, I knew the anxiety would still be there, but I was determined to face it head on. It was one of the last five obstacles and as we ran up I knew what I needed to do. I ran ahead of the others, watching and waiting would not help. I pulled myself backwards up the tube and stuck my butt out over the edge, two friends came out to my left and with a 1,2,3 we let go. The drop was shorter, but I had overcome my nemesis.
The fear was still there, but this time I was able to overcome it by using a few techniques.
- Not over thinking it. The quicker we are able to make a decision and act on it, the easier it is. The more you do this, over time, the easier it is to be more reasoned with the obstacle.
- Referring to past experience. This can work in two ways, it can take you back to the fear and put you off, or remind you it was ok and drive you forward. I used a mix of both of these, the fear drove me to not want to spend 15 minutes there again, it was uncomfortable mentally and physically for me and others. Also, I was fine, I can do it because I already have.
- Visualise the outcome. Think about how you want to feel when you have achieved it. What will you gain from doing it. For me, whilst running between obstacles I could see me going straight for it, coming out of the water smiling and feeling immense pride. All of which happened.
- Remember what the outcome gives you. It is often not just the achievement of that one thing that you are left with, but the confidence to take on others. Knowing you can face a fear or a challenge and overcome them is a key driver for taking on more. It serves as a reminder of what you ARE capable of.
So go out there, be brave, whether your obstacle is climbing a 10 foot wall, doing an instagram live, taking on a new project or going on that date. As Nike says, just do it! It may not be perfect or pretty but it will be amazing and worth it.
Now if only I spent more time applying that logic to the monkey bars.. oh well, next time!