Last weekend I drove to Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota. It was a 7-hour drive one way; which is really the LAST thing I wanted to do. However, my mom organized it because my younger brother was homesick and he was in college an hour away from the lodge. I highly value family and thought about whether or not I should go for the week. Last minute I decided I would make the drive to spend valuable time with my family.
The reason we went to Giant’s Ridge is to ski. Many of you probably do not know my skiing history so I will share. The last time I went skiing was in 7th grade. I remember it was for a school event. I still remember going down the bunny hill several times and building up my confidence to hit the bigger slopes (bigger meaning the green slopes). I went down and was feeling comfortable. However, once I got towards the end I somehow forgot how to stop and slow down. I was going full speed right towards the group of teachers.
I can’t help but try to image the scene from an outsider’s perspective. Here comes a 7th grader who is becoming overly confident in their skiing abilities, not slowing down or stopping, headed towards a group of teachers. I had my arms flailing around me while yelling at the group of teachers, “I CAN’T STOP, I CAN’T STOP!”
Next thing I know I’m on the ground with my math teacher who I took out in the process. At least she was able to stop me. After that I haven’t been skiing since, until last weekend.
I would be lying if I did not say I was nervous. I also though love a challenge and was excited to see what I could do. In the back of my mind I was thinking of all the terrible “what if” scenarios.
What if I broke my leg?
With my leg broken, how much time would I need off of work?
I change insurance in the beginning of the month, what would happen to my medical bills?
What if this is my first concussion?
What if I would need surgery?
I reminded myself of my profession and how I help others push past their fears and doubts and focus on what they need to do to succeed and meet their goals. I need to apply that same practice to myself. I pushed the negative and scary thoughts out of my focus and instead focused on the exciting “what if” scenarios.
What if I am really good at skiing?
What if I could start going off jumps?
What if I become the next Lindsey Vonn? (ok this one was just for fun)
What if I ENJOY skiing?
These “what if” scenarios made me much more excited to ski and I began to look forward to it. I also tried to go into it without expectations and indulge in self-love and self-compassion. I understood that I was new to this and that it might take me a while to learn. I prepared myself to be patient and kind to myself instead of getting frustrated and upset if it took me a while to learn.
I started off the bunny hill and I was able to go down a few times without falling. My sister struggled more than I did, which boosted my confidence in myself because she said she was ready for the actual slopes. I reminded myself that if she is ready than I am ready too.
We started off going down the easier slopes and I was freaking out inside! I kept taking deep calming breaths on the ski lift, just like I remind athletes to do when they start to freak out and lose focus. I had mantras prepared to help me through these moments.
I’ve got this.
I can do this.
I just need to get to the bottom.
I’m a quick learner.
I will complete this task.
Once we got off the ski lift and started going my self-talk became technical rather than motivational. I asked my sister how I was suppose to ski and what to do with my feet. While we started going I would pick up some speed and then tell myself, “Cut to the left/right, move my body to the side, FRONT FOOT FRONT FOOT FRONT FOOT!”
There were moments that I started going faster than I wanted and I had to calm myself down and focus on the technical skills instead of freaking out about how fast I was going because that would have resulted in a fall. I continued to focus on my breathing and at times was yelling at myself in my head “FRONT FOOT FRONT FOOT FRONT FOOT,” to focus on turning to the side to slow myself down or stop. Once I got to a slower place or stopped I was able to catch my breath and remind myself that I am ok and I’ve got this.
The first few times down the slopes were challenging and I admit that I did want to quit. I wanted to stop because I was struggling and was falling a lot down the hill. I noticed that I also continued to compare my abilities with those around me. There were 5-year olds skiing past me and I was getting down on myself. I used my mental training skills though and told myself I am not a quitter and if I quit I will lose this opportunity to learn a new skill. I reminded myself that I am a beginner and to focus on myself instead of those around me. I used GRIT to keep myself going and each time I went down the slopes I got a little bit better, I fell less, gained more confidence, and was actually starting to have FUN.
If I did quit after the first or second time down the slopes I would have missed out on those feelings of success. I would have been stuck in the room by myself and wouldn’t even be making memories and bonding with my family; which is the sole reason I came in the first place!
Looking back now I am grateful for my education in Sport Psychology because I was able to apply it in this situation and experience learning a new skill with my family. The trip ended up being full of great laughs, wonderful memories, delicious food, and led to me leaving with a full warm heart.
The outcome could have been so different. I could have allowed myself to focus on the negatives throughout my experience, become more frustrated every time I fell, lost my confidence, and threw in the towel and quit. Quitters never reach success and their full abilities. Only those who learn from their failures and falls and keep their head up to keep going are the ones who will reach their full potential.
Think about yourself: which one are you? Would you have threw in the towel and went back into the room or would you have continued going down the slopes and face the fear and disappointed you were feeling?
It’s not easy. I was getting frustrated and I was getting upset. There were times I almost did quit, but those are the times when you need to keep fighting. That is when your mind needs to overpower your body and make it continue moving forward. I may not have gone down a black diamond or went over jumps, but I was courageous in my own way.
I faced my own fears of attempting skiing. I continued to ski even after I was taken out from behind from another skier. I didn’t quit and I continued to learn, fight, and move down the hill. Success doesn’t mean you have to be the best. Success is learning something new, fighting through the failures, and facing your fears.
I hope you enjoyed reading my blog, let me know what you think in the comments below!
Remember: Success is on the other side of fear.
