Fearlessness is not the absence of fear as its name may suggest but rather the overcoming and taking captive of the thoughts that tell you that you can’t do it.
“The strength required for this overcoming is a form of resilience”
— Butlins, 2013
For the life of me I wouldn’t be able to tell you why I decided it was a good idea to join my family and friends on high ropes, but I can tell you as soon as I was up there standing high up in the sky on that single piece of rope, I knew I had made a bad decision.
The rope may as well not have been there, I felt like I was already in a detrimental situation and the rope was doing nothing to support me, but I know now that is what kept my balance.
No one can be beside you on it as you cross like I wanted. My dad could only give me support from in front and I felt like that wasn’t enough and that resulted in me bursting into tears and wanting to get off. That day summaries my history with high ropes.
Since then, I had another experience in 2018 when I went on a trip to Go-Ape. I don’t think I would have gone willingly if I knew what it consisted of but at least I made it and even left wanting to stay longer.
It always works out that way I hate it during and at the end I love it. The High Ropes course at my recent trip with Leaders in Community at Hindleap Warren Outdoor Centre made me feel the same way.
I went on the trip not knowing high ropes would be involved until I read our timetable. When we got there, we found out it was going to be straight away on the first day!
I started to reflect on my feelings as a child going away with my family doing similar activities, but I wasn’t prepared for the outcome, in fact I did everything I could to delay my turn on the high ropes.
So what helped this time?
I found myself being distracted with the helmet and my hair, that took my mind off what was to come. I purposely put myself last so not to slow anyone else down.
It also meant that I could observe my team and offer words of support and encouragement as I knew I would get the same. Watching the way that they were all able to successfully complete the course gave me the assurance that I could do it too.
When my turn came around, I tried not to think about what I was doing and just got on with it. I didn’t want to delay the team and instructors and so with the thought in my head that everyone was waiting on me I took my first step; rather than let my fear slow me down.
Fear was within me, but the most significant thing is that it didn’t consume me and that’s what gave me the strength to carry on. In life we are always going to fear something, what I learnt through overcoming my fear of heights, is to find ways to overcome them so we don’t miss out on the experience. It is this experience that will help us build our resilience!
