12 Amazing Lessons I’ve Learned From Rock Climbing

I recently watched Stone Locals | Rediscovering the soul of climbing in Patagonia, an amazing documentary about five different people who explain how climbing has helped them cope with life’s challenges. I was inspired to share with you how climbing has affected and changed my life.

Although I am an active person, I am not an avid climber and I have never had a passion for sports, but climbing has become an integral part of my life over the past 7 years. Since I started climbing, it has become my favorite place to heal, train, relieve stress, socialize, meditate, and be safe. Even more surprising is the fact that this sport has taught me a lot and it still teaches me new things. let’s begin.

 Six months later, a friend brought me a climb one afternoon, and something clicked. The maximum value is returned. Passion, drive, endorphins, achievement, and a smile are back. I’ve finally found what I love to do again, and after about a year, climbing has taught me more life lessons than I could run. So I thought I’d like to share what mountaineering has taught me.

 1. Patience

 Momentary satisfaction has become the norm in our society. We want everything, and we want it now, but it’s impossible when it comes to climbing. Tendon strength takes about three months longer than strength, so you can do enough push-ups but not the subtle movements needed to climb a wall. It takes time to get better. It takes time to become strong. It takes patience to stick with it until you get there.

 2. Love and respect for nature

 There is something unique about pristine beauty. The senses, smells, places, and sounds that exist as you climb the external walls are breathtaking. Headphones are off. Take off your shoes. You will feel like floating in the clouds. Rock climbing is not just rock climbing; it is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature while living in the present moment.

 3. Overcoming fear

I have a severe fear of heights I don’t want to fall. I don’t want to be wrong. I don’t want to break my leg. I’m afraid of heights, but for some odd reason, I like to climb. Something is compelling about overcoming fear. The coming fear makes me feel alive; it makes me feel like I’m conquering, nothing can hold me back, and that’s the point of life. Don’t let anything disturb you.

Also, Read -> How I have CONQUER THE FEAR.

 4. Concentration

 Multitasking is ubiquitous in our world today, but I’ve come to realize that to enjoy it honestly, you have to do it consciously. Working with awareness is one way to deal with future anxiety and stress. Climbing allows me to focus on one thing at a time and truly enjoy what I am doing. Concentrating on what’s in front of you will enable you to do your best and truly enjoy the moment.

 5. Troubleshooting

 Rock climbing is not just power. It would help if you had an intelligence level to figure out how to walk a path. Where do you put your legs and arms? How do you control your body? Which rocks are the supports, and which ones support the hands? Climbing is as mental as it is physically. To complete a route, you have to sit down and look at the entire course and plan your route or action plan. They call path problems for the following reasons: If you want to follow the path, you need to fix it.

 6. Go

 Sometimes rocks appear out of reach. Too far, too small stones, too lousy grip. When this happens, you have two options. Stop or continue. The ability to understand this depends on your belief in yourself. If you have doubts in your heart, you can’t reach them, but if you give up and jump and believe, you’ll be amazed at how strong you are. In life, you have to believe in yourself and your decisions to get it, get what you want, and be successful.

 7. Take your time

 We are moving too fast in this world. We want to forget to do everything at once and enjoy the moment. When a person tries to travel a specific route as quickly as possible, an error occurs, and an unnecessary waste of energy happens. Taking your time and calculating every move and making it accurate will make you a better climber and feel like life. Take your time, and you will get it right.

8. Rest: Spend time doing nothing

 The concept of ‘no day off’ seems to be everywhere these days. Saying you’ve been training every day for the past week is almost like a mark of honor. “Do not give up.” “No excuses.” “Be strong.” I realized, however, that this was not always the best approach. The opposite is true. Climbing is extremely tiring for the body. Pull up, bend over, and have an adrenaline rush when an injury is imminent. Muscles deserve a break.

No, I need a break. Our bodies need rest to rebuild what was torn during training. I didn’t understand the concept until I started climbing. Climbing more than three days in a row is physically impossible. There comes the point when you can’t physically grip the crease or unstable part of your finger. No matter how good your climb, you always need a weekend and always a break. This “no day off” mentality doesn’t apply to climbing; it should apply to everything. Because in reality, it’s just torture.

 9. Be humble to yourself

 I have kids climbing team at my gym, and it makes me happy and happy to see a 10-year-old easily climb a route he never dreamed of. The point is that we cannot compare ourselves to others. We don’t know their lives, their history, their bodies, their whole. Comparing yourself to others is not living. It doesn’t matter what other people do as long as you do your best for yourself every day.

 10. It’s not how good you are, but how happy you are

 Whenever I take someone, they always say, “Sorry, I’m not that nice.” The problem isn’t that I take the climbers because they’re nice, but because they’re my friends and I want to have fun. Climbers are a friendly and welcoming company, and trust me; no one cares how good or bad you are. They care about the fun and good memories you can create between the two of you and the stone.

 11. Age is just a number

 My climbing partner is 62 years old. We are friends. We go up one level. He’s kind of like a rock star. I have made friends with many white-haired people and people who are too young to drive. I value the sense of community very much. Friendships, relationships don’t need an age range. It’s just a number.

 12. Believe in yourself

 All my life, I have not believed in anything. It’s not my athletic ability. It’s not my intelligence. It’s not my speaking skills. Not my drive. I am so ugly; I’m so stupid; I’m too slow. Too fat and too shy, I’ve spent most of my life suppressing myself, thinking there’s no way to do this. Climbing gave me incredible confidence in myself and my abilities. The key to living a life of adventure, lifelong memories, and extraordinary fulfillment is to believe in who you are as a person. You have to think that you know what is best for you. Life is too short to fear your true self. Life is too short to be yourself.

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