If one is perceptive and insightful enough, they can draw lessons from every experience.
Even mundane tasks can offer lessons on a daily basis - but mountaineering is particularly valuable in terms of the lessons it offers on life.
Don't believe me? Here are four life lessons mountain climbing has gifted me.
1. Overcoming Fears Helps You Reach New Heights
Mountaineering is not a safe hobby. The steep cliffs, forbidding peaks, and deadly cold are just a few dangers mountaineers have to face.
However, once they overcome these obstacles, the rewards are immense and satisfying. Standing at the peak of a mountain is like standing on top of the world. There are few things that can match the exhilaration of that moment.
One would do well to remember this lesson in their everyday lives. There may be difficult coworkers, customers, even financial difficulties.
However, once you persevere and overcome these hurdles, the sense of accomplishment is extremely satisfying.
2. Preparation Is Key For Success
When climbing a mountain, your preparation could be the difference between life and death.
You need to have water and food supplies, rain jackets, proper clothing, and the requisite knowledge. If one of these things is missing, your mountaineering adventure could very well end in tragedy.
It's the same in our every day life.
If you’re going for a job interview or exam, you need to prepare yourself. Be armed with the correct knowledge and research, and know the right answer and questions.
This goes for all aspects of life. Don’t be one of those people that show up to take an exam without so much as a pencil.
3. Learn To Pace Yourself
Any expert mountaineer would tell you that slow and steady wins the race - just like in real life.
When you’re faced with a huge, seemingly impossible task like climbing a mountain, keep your head down and soldier on. Giving up could be fatal both for mountaineers and for other people as well. Hence, rushing ahead and trying to be the best at everything isn’t the answer.
A successful person knows when to rest, how to breathe, and how to continue at a comfortable pace.
If one can apply the same rule in their daily life, they could be much happier and thrive better than before.
4. Celebrate When It’s Over
When mountaineers reach the top, they take some time and revel in their success.
They take a good look at the view and leave a sign (like a flag) that they have accomplished the climb. After they get back home, they throw and attend parties and rightfully enjoy their success.
One should not hesitate to apply the same principle when accomplishing something in their life. Of course, it may not be climbing a mountain, but that project you just finished does warrant a celebration.
Don’t make the mistake of comparing your success with other and feeling inferior. If you have gotten through a particularly tough patch, go a little easy on yourself.
A little celebratory break is sometimes all we need to spur ourselves on for the next step. So one shouldn’t forget to celebrate their successes otherwise they may end up feeling taken for granted and unsatisfied. This is also why workplace celebrations are important for customer satisfaction.
While not everyone can go mountain climbing, they can learn lessons from mountaineers.
Mountaineering takes a lot of patience, guts, skills, and some luck. We can easily connect a mountain with a humongous task, and thereby learn how to deal with the difficulties in our lives.
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Interested in hearing more about mountaineering? Feel free to connect with me!
