I have absolutely no data to back up this point, but I know it’s true: half of climbing is mental. I also assert that this is true not just for rock climbing, but for anything extraordinary that you want to do in life.

There is a whole gang of insecurities, and who knows what else, in our head stopping us from doing the amazing things that we are capable of. And the sad thing is, we listen to them.

This is one of those universal human conditions, so you’re not alone. Sure, you are messed up in your own special and unique way, but the issues are more common than you realize.

So before you race out and begin the fun and challenging problems you hope to take on, we should have a few words about your biggest problem — you.

The mind loves to solve problems, so no worries there. But are you in control of what your mind is working on? The mind is a lot like my Border Collies: if you don’t give them a job to do, they find their own jobs, usually ones that you don’t want them to do. But the good news is that they, and your mind, can be trained to do almost anything.

We understand the idea of physical exercise because it’s easily observable. It’s more difficult to observe the mind and what happens beneath the surface as you approach your practice. What we think and how we feel influences what we do. And, in a sort of Valley Girl way, what we think and how we feel others think and feel about us influences our actions. Silly? Yes. But true.

We have all sorts of thoughts and voices in our head (doubt, judgment, self-consciousness, embarrassment, shame, stress, fear, anxiety … ) that prevent us from trying projects in the first place, from sticking with them, from giving them our full effort, and from acquiring the necessary skills to improve.

So what can you do? You can practice controlling your mind by choosing to be present.

This might make you uncomfortable. Good. Growth usually is uncomfortable, but hopefully not so uncomfortable that you don’t do it. Start carving out a small chunk of time where you unplug — no Smartphone, no music, no TV, no outside stimuli. A time where you don’t think about anything and, instead, focus on the task that you are doing, and be present.

This can be anything that you do in your normal day; you don’t have to add anything new. It could be showering, getting dressed, doing the dishes, cleaning, eating breakfast, driving. Whatever it is, start with something small. A few minutes is ample to start. I personally think it helps if it’s the same thing, around the same time, every day, that way it acts as a trigger. Eventually it will become a habit, and you won’t have to fight yourself anymore.

Your thoughts will interrupt, rambling on like an awkward guy you can’t seem to get away from at a cocktail party. Once you catch yourself, take note (metaphorically … unless you are the kind of person who likes to take notes), and go back to your task. Be present.

There are variations on this exercise, but they often require you add a behavior. If you like, you could sit quietly, meditate, or go for a short walk and observe your surroundings. Do whatever makes you comfortable, it’s going to be difficult enough as it is. Start small and start doing this every day.

The idea here is that if you are going to take on challenging problems in your life, you are first going to have to address the obstacles within yourself. I know I sound a little like Mr. Miyagi … but it’s true. You have to know what you’re up against, who the players are inside yourself. Do you have rage issues when dealing with rudeness? (Calling out the wife here a little bit.) Do you get frustrated and impatient when you do tedious projects? (That’s me!)

I don’t know you. But the question here is do you really know yourself? These underlying obstacles to success are the sorts of things that you will learn about yourself as you slowly observe your internal realm. But first, you have to get to know yourself. So for now, start small and observe.

Photo by Kim Brown

“Milly”