by Diana Perez and Robert Orzanna

Climbing can teach you a lot about life and reveal a lot about how you relate to it. The lessons you learn while on the wall are surprisingly applicable in other, day-to-day life situations.

Equipment is not what you need

What do I really need in life to have a safe stand? A well-fitting pair of shoes and comfortable clothing might be enough. No necessity to accumulate the non-required. It is not worth comparing myself with the equipment of others. I am different, have different needs, and some promoted tools do not serve any purpose for me.

Routing through life

Routes can be difficult. Sometimes I get stuck in the middle, it seems impossible to reach the end or there seems to be no way to start. My body is signalling to me that I am not yet ready to take a new step. Past efforts have not been taken completely.

You and me

I am constantly learning and improving, and so are others. Yet we all experiment differently as we pay attention to different details for the same routes. New people can offer new insights into a problem which you have been struggling with. Seeing things from a different perspective opens up opportunities that were always there, but previously invisible to you. Life is full of surprises. You never know in advance who will accompany you on a certain route in your life. But in the moment when it happens, be there and receptive to the opportunity it offers to you.

Its okay to fall

Falling off of the wall can be scary, but like most things in life, it’s really not as bad as you think it’s going to be. You psyche yourself out thinking you’re too high up and you're definitely going to mess something up if you fall- but whoosh! Its bound to happen at some point. And the best part is that once you’ve fallen, it gets easier to try new routes and new ways to maneuver yourself. Youre no longer (as) scared of falling, because you know that you can just get back up and try again (like Aliyah).

Be present

Often you get further without mental cognition but heartly feeling. Not every step needs to be mentally played through. Feel the flow of your body and how it is empowering you to succeed on routes in your life you have never thought of being able to do.

I can’t ….yet

When climbing, its easy to dismiss certain routes by thinking they’re too difficult and telling yourself that you simply can’t do them. This inner monologue with yourself sometimes lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, in which your negative thoughts end up costing you a grip or the next step. Instead of thinking “I can't” — just try. And if you actually are physically unprepared for a route, don’t fret. You will get there eventually…and it will feel all the better as you notice your own improvement!

The main point is to understand that life is a learning process. You are probably not going to succeed the first time you try a new route (but awesome if you do!), but that doesn't mean you won’t- or more importantly, that you can’t- ever succeed.