Walk Thought: Growth Edge

Dec 11

“Walk Thoughts” are just as their name suggests - thoughts spurred on through time when my feet are grounded on the earth and my hair is blowing in the wind; moving in nature and being moved by nature. These are candid thoughts of mine (Dani) brought on by conversations with others, books, podcasts, music, or simply time of solitude. Though these thoughts are somewhat clinical in nature, they are held with an open palm, as they are designed to provoke MORE thought and may not be fully completed thoughts yet. Enjoy growing with me as we explore this together!

Recently, my time walking in the woods has included a slightly heavier load. “Rucking” is a military concept that has actually been turned into a general exercise technique (and even its own endurance sport) that involves carrying a heavy pack while trekking on (or off) trails. I have been experimenting with my own version of rucking - no fancy, official “rucksack” or equipment, just whatever I have that is heavy shoved into my hiking backpack and my well-loved trail running sneakers.

It really is an experiment of learning by trying. My first time out on the trail, I didn’t think it was necessary to slip my backpack pad in between my pack and the weights, nor did I really do any research on weight distribution, or any research on rucking at all. I simply made the pack heavy and walked out my backdoor. It wasn’t long until I realized I had made some rookie mistakes.

As I hiked, the dumbbells banging on my lower back with each step grew more and more apparent until the feeling took centerstage of my mind. I laughed with myself, knowing this is all part of trying; this is start of a growth edge. I thought deeply about the discomfort of change, the humbling features of mistakes, and the paralyzing grip that failure can have if you are not willing to risk trying.

It reminded me of some of the wonderful yoga teachers in my life who encourage me with statements such as, “Every position is ‘the pose.’ Just play, and WHEN you fall out of the position, jump right back in. Do it again, and add a smile.” Notice - “WHEN you fall out,” not IF. The idea of a growth EDGE is the reality that we are risking just enough that falling is not just possible, it is likely.

If this was a commercial for growth edges, I think the verbal “fine print” would say something like, “Other realities of growth edges may include: pain, nervousness, a strange desire to try other hard things, a gradual increase in confidence, accepting and embracing mistakes in all areas of life, excitement to try again, occasional to frequent setbacks, and the desire to share your experience with others.”

Did you notice the shift in that list of side-effects? I have been using an analogy with a lot of clients lately while we discuss mindset shifts. Imagine with me, for a moment, a house with three levels: a basement, a main living floor, and then a top floor. If fear or pessimism is getting in the way of stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new, I will safely bet that your mindset surrounding that goal is living in the basement - dark, cold, maybe even a little moldy or dusty. “That is too big of a goal.” “I’m not capable of that.” “It is going to be too hard.” “I’ve tried before and nothing works for me.”

In my experience, it is unrealistic to then expect anyone (myself included) to go from the basement to the top floor, or what I jokingly call the “penthouse suite” of mindsets. This would be a pretty radical shift from self-limiting and negative core beliefs to self-talk such as “I am unstoppable!” Though I love to witness people get to a place where they can believe and live by those “penthouse suite” style mindsets, I also like to discuss how practical and sustainable moving up from the basement to the main living level can be.

So, what does the main living level consist of?
Open and neutral mindsets.
Mindfulness.
Presence.
Accepting “being” instead believing the lie that you always need to do more - better - bigger.

Careful: this is not a level built for complacency. Rather, this is a space where we can fail and get back up again, and again, and again. It is a place where we say, “Yeah, that was hard and I totally wasn't prepared for it, but I gave it what I had today.” It is where I look at the small bruises on my lower back from my first ruck and lovingly and non-judgmentally smile, because I did it - I tried and I choose to own each victory and defeat that comes with that. I am reminded that growth often comes from pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones and accepting the challenges that come our way. Through each attempt to put that heavy pack on my shoulders, I am not only strengthening my physical endurance, but also developing resilience and mental fortitude. I am learning to adapt and overcome obstacles, and although I may not consider myself amazing at rucking or envision tackling the Great Divide Trail next year, I am unquestionably evolving.

Every time I face the task of shouldering that weight, I am proving to myself that I am capable of more than I initially believed. Each step forward, no matter how small or monumental, signifies progress and a valuable lesson learned. So, while I may not be ready to conquer grand trails just yet, I am confidently embracing this journey of growth and self-discovery, knowing that I am becoming a stronger version of myself with each determined stride.