Turn Challenge into Strength: Shift from Doubts to Wins

This week featured outings to Otter Falls and Tiger’s Poo Poo Point. Challenges that once felt intimidating (solo hiking and hiking with strangers) have become familiar. My new challenges are returning to public speaking, developing new content, and testing neuroscience-based training methods with several clients. As I build skills in exploring the mountains in new ways, I am teaching my brain that whatever challenge I face today will become familiar tomorrow, no matter how scary it feels. You are never too old to learn, grow, and change.

Celebrate What You’ve Accomplished

Last week’s disappointment faded into the background as I continued to face new challenges. When my hiking partner chose to wait for us in the car on Tuesday, Ajax and I explored the trail to Otter Falls ourselves. While I would have loved having company, I also embrace the newfound confidence I get exploring new trails. Visiting Granite Creek in June–my first solo new-to-me hike in years–opened the door to new possibilities. Now, I embrace exploring new trails by myself. Growth!

On Friday, I joined a group of strangers for a new-to-me area of Tiger Mountain, Poo Poo Point via the High School Trail. I hiked to Poo Poo from the Chirico Trail last July 4th but hadn’t ever started from the Issaquah Community Center. Friday’s route is more interesting and less crowded than the Chirico Trail. Win! We had rain on both days, but rain no longer bothers me. I have evolved into a four-season hiker (strong wind is the main deterrent now) and look forward to leading hikes with the Mountaineers soon. Another win!

Non-Hiking Challenges

I’m also stepping into new challenges such as returning to public speaking and incorporating neuroscience into training sessions with clients. My resistance decreases with each step forward. All of these changes require the ability to adapt and move forward despite challenges. We can’t expect to make progress in huge leaps. Instead, it comes in micro-movements. It often feels like I’m moving at glacier speed, barely perceptible, until some nudge causes part of me to break forward, never to return to the previous state. Embrace change wherever it comes from. It’s a sign of growth and resilience.

Takeaway: Look for Successes

Consider the past week. Make a short list of big events, appointments, conversations, or meetings you had. Was there anything new that you’ve never done before? How did it go? If not, how might you plan something new for the coming week? What can you celebrate from the past week? Give yourself time to visit a different store, explore a new park, or try a food or recipe you’ve never had before. Having new experiences fuels our brains and expands our lives.

Use a Challenge as Proof of Strength

One of my biggest unexpected successes occurred while I worked with a client. He shared a new problem with his foot and what he’s tried to help it. Mentally sifting through my neuroscience material, I tried several experiments and then asked him to remove his shoes. It turns out his narrow shoes had been creating a sore spot on his little toe. He showed me where he’d modified his insert and I had him experiment with sliding his fingers between tight toes to return them to their normal position. We discussed the possibility of getting shoes with a wider toe box to see if it helps.

Later that afternoon he called, ecstatic. He’d visited three stores and finally acquired toe separators and a new pair of shoes. Delighted, he shared his success story: “I felt so powerful doing yard work all afternoon. It’s a miracle. Tell everyone about that toe separator trick, it works!” Big win!

Building Blocks

Despite previous doubts about whether I’ll ever master the thousands of hours of new material, I now see that ANY improvement is a win. I took a chance integrating the new material with years of client experience and it paid off. Any of the exercises I can teach successfully means victory. And the more victories my clients have, the more forward momentum and confidence I build.

While frustration can feel like a setback, perseverance builds resilience. Try to remember to use challenges as proof of your strength. If you can organize a hike, maybe you can use the same skills to organize a class. If you can eat well at home, perhaps you can use some of the same skills to eat well during travel. Skills are skills; the challenge is to tap into your creativity to use them in new ways.

Takeaway: Look for Learning Lessons

Look back on last week. Where were you challenged? Now that you’ve got some space away from the challenges, ask yourself: What did I learn? What could I do differently next time? What proof do I have that I am growing and becoming more resilient? If we see our challenges positively, we can move forward rather than stay stuck.

Reframe Self-Doubt into a Doable Challenge

How can we conquer self-doubt? Instead of seeing it as a barrier that prevents you from moving forward, perhaps you can frame it as a sign that you’re expanding outside of your comfort zone in meaningful ways. Self-doubt seems to be a natural part of any growth process.

We can view nervousness before public speaking as dread and anxiety, or we can frame it as excitement. The physiological response is the same: A nervous stomach, shallow breathing, faster heartbeat. But the words we use or the stories we tell ourselves (see any of Brene Brown’s research if you’re intrigued) help our minds feel better or worse about a given experience.

To practice reframing doubt, try journaling about what is going well. In other words, identify your Gains rather than getting stuck in the Gap. You can spend more time on preparation, such as outlining and practicing your talk; scouting out new hikes before you lead them; and trying exercises on friends or family before you charge clients for a session. And you can share what you think with mentors or peers who can provide objective feedback. They can help you identify and grow your strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses.

Takeaway: Look for Your Unique Skills

Think about the last challenge you had that was similar to one you’re feeling doubtful about. When I get nervous about public speaking, I envision all of the times in the past that I’ve done well, rather than the two that didn’t go well. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, analyze what you did to succeed and put those skills and habits into practice with this new challenge. Remind yourself of the many ways you’ve succeeded. You will at this, too.

Focus on Your Vision

Finally, focus on your long-term goals, also referred to by health and wellness coaches as your wellness vision or mission statement. Remember why you’re trying to do the things you do. I impressed myself this week with how clear my reasons are and how easily I can explain them. Instead of hearing the question, “What will this do for you?” and replying, “I have no clue!” I can succinctly say why I’m doing certain things. That’s a HUGE win.

What is your life purpose? What is your Big Why? Can you come up with some process goals rather than outcome goals? If that feels too daunting, pick a smaller area of your life and come up with one change you might improve. That may be as basic as drinking 64 ounces of water a day, or as complicated as getting an advanced degree by the time you turn 60.

Whether you want to help your family, get another credential, pick up a new hobby, or lead a group into the mountains, look for what gives you energy and spend more time there. If you feel no spark of energy for what you’re considering, it might not be the right thing to pursue.

Takeaway: Mine the Energy

Get comfortable with a good cup of your favorite hot beverage and then take a few deep breaths. Then, without censoring yourself, write down 20 things you are interested in learning more about. Don’t let the editor get in the way, just let your inner child play. When you get to 20, get up and leave your list alone. If you reread it now, you might find fault with each item. Put it somewhere you can look at it with fresh eyes.

Then 1-2 days later, pick it up again. Study it. What pops out at you as the most exciting, the item with the most energy? What step can you take today to start pursuing that high-energy item? You owe it to yourself to pursue your dreams. I’m so close to finishing the requirements to get back to hike leading, and every hike I go on makes me itch for more. I’m chasing that energy and feeling stronger every time I go back to the mountains. You can find that same energy if you trust yourself to do so.