How Facing My Biggest Fear on a Mountain Hike Helped Me Reclaim My Power
Seven months ago, I broke my arm in a freak accident out on a hike with my mustang. So when I was forced to take him on that very hike to bring him home, every ounce of PTSD I still had in my system rose to the surface.
Picture this: For weeks, James and I have been in a massive labor of love getting a 3-acre paddock fenced and safe for our horses to finally come live with us on our ranch. We’ve been dreaming of this since we adopted them. So the opportunity to put some muscle into making it happen was a no-brainer. We were physically spent but our hearts were filled.
To manage our energy, we planned to trailer them up the 20ish-minute drive from where they were to our home. That also allowed me to feel safer because I wouldn’t have to worry about another freak accident.
But sometimes the best plans don’t work out because the universe has a bigger one in store for you…
After 2 hours of failed attempts at trailer loading, it became apparent that our horses weren’t going to make it up to our ranch as we’d hoped. And I was not about to create fearful energy by forcing them into a metal box that was already very scary to them. 😞
But my heart sank. How could I NOT have them home with me today after all the build-up and anticipation? Would I really have to keep trying at this in the days to follow?
Then my beautiful soul sister, Anna, who has been their caretaker, said with total confidence and love, “Let’s just walk them up. It’ll be a great adventure for them, and they’ll settle in so nicely once they’re up. I’ll bring Larson, and everything will go great. Let’s just do it.”
Larson is the shaman of the herd. He’s MASSIVE, almost half a size larger than a normal draft horse. Nothing fazes him. And I knew he was the security blanket that my sensitive boys and I needed to feel safer.
You see, after my arm broke, I lost confidence in believing I could safely walk with Norby in the open mountain range. I’d have flashbacks and see the worst-case scenario, so I just avoided it.
But I was given the choice to face those fears OR not have my dreams come true. Everything in my body screamed at me to “not make a stupid choice.”
It was quite something to witness how quickly I started to beat up on and judge myself. 👀
Using my tools, I gave myself permission to be human.
Noticing. Forgiving. And Choosing Again.
I told myself that “I can do this!”, took some long deep breaths, visualized ourselves crossing over into our property line and then… we hiked the 2 miles up 1,000 feet of elevation to take our boys home.⚡
I originally said I had to take Ollie, our fjord. Because he felt safest. But Ollie made it CLEAR that I didn’t have what it took to lead him.
He is a massive draft horse who was ready to go at a brisk pace and eat everything in sight. I simply didn’t have the energy or physical strength to lead him. 😩
But James did! And he responded to his leadership in the snap of a finger. It was beautiful to witness how clear it was that they were meant to go together.
So I cautiously took Norby from James…
Instantly, the contrast from Ollie made it clear that he was THE SOFTEST, most respectful, communicative partner I could ask for on the hike.
I am in significantly worse shape than James and Anna, so I was barely keeping up. Losing my breath. Being beat red. And clenching my heart was all standard for me. Meanwhile, James and Anna carried on a conversation yards ahead of me, like it was a walk in the park.
That forced me to give myself once again permission to be human. Not compare myself and take it one step at a time without judgment of pace. And Norby met me right there.
Multiple times throughout this hour-long hike, I stopped to cry. I was beside myself, feeling all the healing that was occurring between us in each step. 🥹
I trusted him and he trusted me.
Even with a barking, aggressive dog. And getting spooked when the lead rope got tangled in his legs. Like a wave engulfing me, I felt myself become an Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos.
I was able to be the lighthouse of possibility and make it happen.
Facing my biggest fear enabled me to reclaim my power. And the continued ripple effects have been noticeable.
I feel more power in my mind, body and spirit. And a confidence I didn’t realize had been so bruised. Facing my biggest fear created a new sense of freedom.
Have you ever been forced to face your biggest fear? Do you have the inner tools to summon when you need them the most?
Lately, my coaching clients have been facing their biggest fears, such as…
- ❤️🩹a massive emergency that made them question their mortality
- 💍being forced to decide if it’s time to leave their 30+ year marriage
- 🩼 a significant physical injury that ripped away their identity because they can no longer do their work
- 💼losing their once “stable job” and not knowing how to carry on with faith and financial security
- 🧓their parent getting dementia and feeling required to let go of their dreams to be a caregiver
And let me tell ya, 10 out of 10 times, when you turn into an island of peace in a sea of chaos, face your fears with love and do everything it takes to move through it, you win the game of life.
You level the f up! And that’s what every single one of my clients has done with the support of my tried and true framework.
You will become so much more confident in yourself when you choose to do the hard thing.
But how do you choose that, instead of avoiding it? My new 4-module course Becoming an Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos walks you through that exact proven framework.
Whether it’s just getting through a normal day of the chaos in the news, or facing your biggest fear – you can take your power back now.
Ready to become your own lighthouse of possibility in the face of fear?
Join me here.
PS
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