“[…] your highest goal is learning, and only in action does true, experiential learning occur. This is what you climb for. In order to transcend a risk, you need to learn something, and you’ll only be able to learn by staying open and receptive. In your preparation for the risk, you’ve meticulously set specific parameters to avoid serious injury and safeguard your life. You’ve decided that the risk is appropriate and that you want to take it. Your art now is to participate in the risk in the most empowering way possible. You’ve committed. […] trust in the process.”
As I sat in bed reading these words from Arno Ilgner’s book “The Rock Warrior’s Way” the other night, it dawned on me: substitute the word “climb” with “live” or “love” and this last paragraph by Arno Ilgner summarizes that “something new” in me that I was trying to describe the other day.
I have been reading Arno Ilgner’s book “The Rock Warrior’s Way” on and off for the past several months and, as many of my climbing buddies has promised, it has made me a “better” climber — not necessarily climbing higher grades but climbing more focused and relaxed, more conscious in a subconscious flow, more “in the moment”, more effectively, enjoying it more as a process or journey that just success vs. failure. Reading this book, though, has also has been one of the quiet sources of the strength and openness I have been finding again over the course of these months as it has reminded me of how I live — or try or want to live — my whole life, of which climbing is just one (albeit important) aspect.
“The preparation phase […] focuses on understanding how our conscious minds work. We play little tricks on ourselves that drain power […]. Fears, real and imaginary, can negatively influence our behavior under stress. Recognizing fear and the various kinds of fear-based motivation allows us to develop a more love-based foundation for action. Love-based motivation moves us from an avoidance orientation to a learning & seeking orientation, which focuses our attention more sharply on the task at hand. The whole process of meeting risks and challenges becomes not only more efficient, but also more enjoyable and rewarding. This increases our motivation and willingness to put ourselves in challenging situations. This places us in a positive feedback loop, a path that continuously increases the personal power* we have available when entering into risks and challenges.
In the transition phase, we focused on creating a 100-percent commitment to action. The preparation phase helped us to do this, since through it we have a much better idea of exactly what the risk is. We’ve examined the risk scrupulously, made plans that limit the danger, and resolved questions about our intent in risking. We also developed specific psychological strategies for fully committing to the process.
Now, in the action phase, we keep ourselves mentally in the action, in the most empowering frame of mind possible, despite our natural tendency to seek escape. The Listening process concentrated on opening up the subconscious and intuitive information systems and limiting the role of the conscious mind. The final process, the Journey, focuses on keeping attention in the moment to find comfort and meaning in the risk.”
[Chapter 7, “The Rock Warrior’s Way” by Arno Ilgner]
In my own life now, I think I’ve finally reached or entered a renewed, Journey process: this is the “new phase” I’ve been feeling.
*{NOTE: by “personal power” Arno Ilgner means an attitude of acceptance, respect, control (of one’s own fears), and openness that has nothing to do with the idea of “power” connected to “success” or money or control over others.}
The Little Prince and the Fox 