Power of Inspiration

For the podcast episode, click here.

When we are training, attempting to challenge ourselves, it is important to distinguish what motivates our goals. If we are driven by energy from the idea of winning, or proving, the shoulds or should nots, then we may be successful for a time, however, the energy motivating our actions can, and usually will eventually, run out. However, if we are inspired by love and joy, our energy can be endless. 

Parenting is a wonderful example of providing evidence for this idea. The endless sleepless nights disrupted by the need to feed and settle a child would not be possible for the countless months it takes without that key ingredient, love. 

Let's also consider more carefully that word inspire. To be inspired means to be "​Inspire comes from the Latin word that means to inflame or to blow in to. When you inspire something, it is as if you are blowing air over a low flame to make it grow." - Vocabulary.com

To be inspired is to be energized. To feel more alive. 
When we are pursuing a goal we feel we "must" or "should", we often feel less inspired, or more challenged in the pursuit than we would feel if we were in love with the idea of the challenge. 

All of this then is to say, it is essential to identify what you love and move in that direction when setting goals. Viktor Frankl noted this in his book, Man's Search for Meaning, when he describes the long cold march in the cold with his feet poorly shod and in his discomfort and suffering, he remembered his his wife, more importantly, he remembered the depth of his love for his wife. Not even knowing if she was still alive, this memory inspired him to survive so he may see her again. 

In the climbing world, the magazines and press revolves around competitors or hard ascents; firsts. A few years ago it was Alex Honnold's first solo climb of El Cap. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's first ascent of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite making National mainstream news. More recent trending posts about who won a spot at the Olympic climbing competition and Daniel Woods doing the first US V17, 

When I was living out of a vehicle and climbing, more than a few moons ago, I would attend competitions and spend my climbing sessions trying for the next hard redpoint or onsight. I definitely enjoyed days with nothing to do but rock climb, however, I do remember the day I figured out what I really loved.
​I was spending my time writing a training book, and took a break to wander around the cliffs of Rifle to see what fellow climbers were up to. My partner and his friends were projecting a 5.14, and struggling to figure out the crux moves. I watched and considered the problem. Eventually I asked for a belay, despite the fact that the hardest thing I had ever one was in the 5.13- level. I hauled my way up to the section where they were struggling, gripped the handholds, reversed the moves and promptly demonstrated a potential sequence. Turns out my idea worked and later the climbers - much stronger than me - could make it through that section. They joked about how I should project the route. In truth, I had no interest in climbing the route, but I was very happy to have been able to unlock a potential sequence and helping others be successful. 

That experience was a very telling clue, that when combined with my enjoyment of taking everything I learned along my own redpoint journey back to clients, the way I helped fellow competitors at competition, and my life long pursuit of coaching and instructing in a variety of sport fields, and academia, that pointed to the understanding that more than being a "professional" climber, I preferred being a coach. 

So how do you discover what drives you? What you love?
Try the following exercise I learned from Rod Stryker through his work called The Four Desires.
I strongly recommend the entire program to have a complete picture of what gives you purpose.
​This is merely one exercise of many powerful options.

First I want you to set yourself up properly.
Make sure you have a pen and paper in front of you. Not a computer... paper & pen, please.
We will start with a little breathing and relaxation. 
Find a comfortable position for the body. Whether lying down or sitting in a chair, make sure that you are comfortable and will not need to move for the next 10 minutes. 
Bring your awareness to your breath.
As you relax, notice the breath moving into the abdomen with the subtle rise and fall of the belly. Gradually, there is no movement in the chest, just the slight rise and fall of the abdomen.
As you watch the flow of the breath, intend, without effort, that the inhale flows into the exhale and the exhale flows into the inhale. Just watch, no trying. 
Now allow a memory to come to mind of a time when you were filled with joy. A time when you were completely immersed in what you were doing and the result was a sense of joy, or empowerment, perhaps a feeling of being completely alive.
Allow yourself to fully remember the details of what led to that moment, the moment itself. The environment, the people with you or were you alone? The smells and sounds. How you felt as you went through that experience. 

You may have more than one memory show up, that is fine. Just allow as much of the experience to come alive for you as you can. Just spend the next few moments reliving the experience.

Gradually when you have relived the event, or events, become aware of your breath again. As you become aware of the breath, notice the inclination for the breath to deepen and bring awareness back to the body. 
Gradually, open the eyes. 

Using your pen and paper you will now write a poem about the memory.
It doesn't have to rhyme, no one else will see it. Just allow yourself to write whatever comes to mind - free writing, no editing or reservation. 
Just write whatever comes to mind about the experience. 
Allow yourself 10 minutes or more if needed. 

When you have completed the poem, we move to the next step. 
Re-read the poem. As you do, note any words or lines that provoke a sense of marked response in you. Whether it is validation or surprise, just note any words or lines that seem to engage your attention. 

Here is an example:
She stood on the precipice looking out across the valley.
She could see the path through the woods, at least some of the path. She had no doubt about knowing the way. 
She would lead. 
She encouraged those following.
The sunshine was bright and cheerful,
the crowds followed.
She moved among them, laughing and encouraging.
She saw what they did not yet. 
They would be more than they believed. 

Now - take the words, ideas from the poem and list them on a separate page.
see the path
She had no doubt
She encouraged         laughing and encouraging
She saw what they did not yet. 
They would be more than they believed.
When you consider these phrases and words, consider closely what they mean to you. If we examine the lines above, the words exude a few themes
- confidence,
- encouragement,
- seeing what others don't see (visionary)
- they would be more than they believed - growth

She believes in the growth potential of others, can see a path for growth and encourages their progress.
She being the author of the poem. (or me). And it is true, it is what I love to do. 

Let me know how you made out. And reach out if you want some help deciphering your path to love and fulfillment.