Mind over Matter
Glacier National Park, Montana, Summer 2014
Mt. Cannon, 8,952ft
A few years back, my husband and I had the opportunity to take some vacation and travel up to Glacier National Park (GNP) in Montana to visit a dear college friend of mine. I’d been there before, and loved going back to gain some perspective and see the pure, raw beauty nature can provide.
The first day we were there, we ventured out bright and early to hike Mt. Cannon, an 8,952 foot peak inside Glacier National Park. I love the outdoors and love to hike. So I was excited and looking forward to going up Mt. Cannon. The scenery in GNP is spectacular, the company just as good. As we started up, I quickly realized that I would be challenged in ways I hadn’t experienced before.
This is where Mind Over Matter came into play for me, and why it’s relevant to having a fit mind. I thought I had a tough mindset, but soon realized on this hike that there’s always room for growth. Let me set the stage a bit.
There were 4 of us on the hike. Two of us lived basically at sea level, the other 2 hiked in GNP every weekend. Initially, the hike started out like any other; on a steep trail but not too hard. Soon after, the trail changed from “normal path” to a skinny mountain goat trail veering on an angle straight up the side of the mountain. As we continued on, I naturally fell into the caboose position in the group. Shorter legs and smaller steps made that a good place for me. I could see the group and go at my own pace without getting too disconnected or feeling the pressure to go faster because someone was behind me (which I know is totally self-inflicted pressure!).
We soon reached these huge rock formations that had to be scrambled up to get to the next section of trail. Normally I love this stuff, but these rocks were different. They were incredibly sharp, steep, and in many places I needed help getting up. Not to mention some of the steepest mountain sides I’ve ever seen on either side with what I estimated to be about a 2,000 or more foot drop. Because I was the caboose and the others were already up ahead waiting, I had no help. I had to get up those rocks on my own. It was at this point that a very real and very paralyzing fear came over me.
For the first time in my life, I was scared to death.
I cried.
Twice.
The reality of life and death had overwhelmed me like never before, and many times I didn’t think I would be able to go on. I was the last person in the train of the four hikers, which left me with little help in areas I felt I needed it most. But I kept on. I didn’t want to get left behind. And I really did want to summit Mt. Cannon. At each obstacle, I cried for a few moments and then took many deep breaths. I started using positive self-talk. “You can do this Katie”, “Just one step at a time.” I tried to shift my focus from what I didn’t want to happen, which was to fall to my death, to what I did want to happen; to climb those rocks. I utilized my mental skills more so than I ever had before in my life. Self talk, breathing, mantras, positivity, and mind over matter. All these things helped me conquer that fear.
Once I reached the peak, I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I had to sit down, calm down, and take it all in. As I sat there at the top, alone and lost with my thoughts, a sense of pure pride and accomplishment came over me. I was so proud of myself for pushing through such a challenging situation and making it to the top after wanting to give up - my heart and mind filled with joy. It was a defining moment in my life - both personally and professionally. Not to mention the incredible view from the top. It was all worth it, and confirmed that with the right mindset and attitude, I can push through anything I’m faced with. And now because of that experience, I’m better equipped for future challenges. That’s the lesson in all of this. No matter what happens, there are always things to be learned and gained that make us better. Mind over Matter is real, and maybe more importantly, can be trained and improved.
Thinking back, I’d definitely hike Mt. Cannon again. I’m sure it will challenge me again, and I will have to re-face some of the fears I had on that mountain that day. But I want to. I want to conquer that hike, and enjoy it even more the next time.
Can you think of similar experiences in your life where you were faced with physical and mental challenges that made you better? How did you handle it? I’d love to hear about them, so please share your thoughts and stories below. And for more customized guidance on how to conquer your own mentality, set up some sessions with me and conquer your challenges like never before!
If this topic resonated with you and you want to continue the conversation, reach out and let’s talk!
