What do children know that adults forget?

Do you remember? As kids we were always saying things like, “I can do it!” and “Let me!” …often with great defiance and conviction. How did we go from there to being adults who continuously chant I can’t?

People have been asking me questions about the Climb program lately. Their curiosity has prompted me to write this particular post.

Hey…look at that happy couple standing in front of that scary mountain! 

I want to share why I believe the Climb program holds a treasure trove of value. I will tell you first that creating and launching Climb Your Mountain on March 2nd, as well as other personal growth programs to follow, is MY MOUNTAIN this year.

There is no greater feeling of empowerment than taking a challenge head on – a seemingly impossible challenge – and then coming out on top. Reaching the summit. Standing there in your own skin, looking down on how far you have come, with the reality of your stunning victory just sinking in…it’s like getting a shot of unlimited power right into your veins! Wonderfully intoxicating and energizing.

And yet, most people will retreat from taking on their biggest, most difficult challenges. Instead, they will label and accept them as insurmountable limitations, and settle into the comparative safety of their comfort zone. Once the decision is made to retreat, they begin composing internal stories of self-limitation, reinforcing the idea that they are unable to make any real, measurable change. In truth, the comfort zone is really just a self-imposed prison.

Over time, the stories become embedded as circular, self-perpetuating, limiting beliefs. Those beliefs then get tucked away in the subconscious and work 24/7 behind the scenes, playing out in the background of our psyche. Ultimately, our beliefs feed all of our decisions. Perhaps what is most disturbing is that we actually embrace our limiting beliefs, holding onto them like a security blanket. 

But wait…isn’t security a good thing? After all, why should we attempt what is too difficult, and then fail? Security equals safety equals happiness, right?

Surprisingly, the opposite is true. All the while we are clutching our blanket, we are most likely wondering why we are not truly happy, bewildered by a vague and intangible emptiness…what is eluding us?

We rarely look up to notice that we have actually created our own glass ceiling. Perhaps it is too painful to see that which seems far beyond our reach anyway. We may feel a tinge of jealousy, and even hold judgment against others who are doing the things we wish we could do, disempowered further by their success.

You may have heard that most people “lead lives of quiet desperation, and die with their song still inside them.” This quote is attributed to Henry David Thoreau. It pretty much sums up the sad truth that many people will live out their lives never realizing their full potential, never singing their beautiful life-song.

Replace your can’t with CAN.

In short, limiting beliefs deny us access to achieving breakthroughs that could potentially restore flow, energy, and refreshing possibility into our lives. These soul-crushing beliefs also leak out into our speech. Those who live inside the limitation paradigm say the word can’t a lot.

Can’t is a deflating, cop-out word that instantly robs us of our freedom. How? By dismissing any and all empowering thoughts from even entering the mind. It bars their entrance before considering them as possibilities. The word can’t is a contraction – need I say more?

Think of it this way: Can’t is the gatekeeper of limiting self-beliefs. Can is the only key that opens the door to freedom.

So, what changed in me? What made me go from being stuck in a pattern of limiting self-beliefs to believing that I can do anything I set my mind to?

A decision.

I decided that enough was enough. I decided to change my internal story of no, I can’t …to yes, I CAN.

Well, that sure sounds easy. But it wasn’t. Indeed, making the decision was easier than doing the work that followed. I guess what I’m saying is this: You aren’t going to do any of the work until you make the decision to do it.

Here’s what’s true…just as surely as we work to embed any internal stories of self-limitations, we may also choose to rewrite those stories, transforming them into I CAN stories and beliefs. This transformation requires a bit of work – work I shall refer to from now on as training.

Climbing the Grand Teton, for me, was symbolic of something much bigger and deeper in my life – breaking through debilitating fear, and healing persistent internal pain.  The pain of low self-worth and limiting beliefs that kept me inside the prison of my comfort zone – small and powerless.

To be clear, climbing the Grand was neither a magic bullet nor a miracle cure for my pain and fear issues. Rather, it initiated me on a path of high-powered, accelerated personal growth. On this path I continuously meet challenges head on with courage and commitment to the process of healing – and that is where the training comes in. Climbing the Grand was my first big breakthrough, one that required building some muscle to achieve …not just physical muscle, but mental as well. It meant learning how to challenge – and rewrite – my own limiting thoughts, beliefs, and even speech.

It’s like anything else: the more you do it, the closer you get to mastery. By training for the mountain I actually mastered my fear, and began rewriting my most painful, limiting stories. And wow, it sure has powered me up for THIS year’s big mountain!

What is your greatest challenge? What fear, internal story or limiting self-belief is stopping you from achieving something you really want? I have asked before…what is YOUR mountain this year?

I assure you that whatever it is, you have what it takes to reach the summit. To get there, however, you must first make the choice – a decision – followed by commitment, the right support, and training. Personal breakthroughs are spectacular because we make them happen.

Do you feel the I CAN stirring somewhere inside? Do you wish more than anything to break through your fear and limiting self-talk to achieve a dream bigger than you’ve ever dared?

We will be offering a free week of “bootcamp” to introduce Climb Your Mountain for anyone who is excited and committed to upping their A-game. Watch for the announcement!

And don’t forget…

Keep calm and Brumbylon. 

Thanks for hanging out with me – have a great week! 

~ Lisa 

“The seed that grows toward the light begins in darkness.”