The Trail to Self Efficacy

I remember my first attempt at Half Dome. Before the hike, I traveled to Yosemite alone and made my way up to Nevada Falls a few times to train for the altitude changes. Hiking half dome for me was not so much about the external reward; it was about proving to myself that I was capable.

I had invited a friend at the time to join me weeks before, but at the last minute, she baled out. I had a decision to make. Was I going to let go of my goal because I'd be doing it alone, or was I going to commit and choose to be brave?

The night before my endeavor, I stayed in a hotel room alone with a door handle that was barely locked and a borehole that had been gouged as if a bobcat had tried to make a jailbreak. Let’s just say I didn’t sleep feeling the most safe. With 3 hours of sleep, I made my way to Yosemite. I started my hike at 7:10 am with a full pack of food and water and a smile to match. I made my way up the trail. Others heard of my end destination and encouraged me as I went. 

Looking back, I found it interesting that strangers were more eager to celebrate my venture than the people who were close to me.

After climbing a mountain that felt like I was taking the staircase to heaven, I had reached the rock that looked like a giant marshmallow peep, Half dome.

As I began making my way up the cables, the winds became intense. I went from wooden plank to plank as I inched up the mount. Though I did not make it to the top of Half Dome due to time and limited daylight, I successfully made it halfway up the cables. 

I was proud of myself. When I got home people were excited to congratulate me, even the friend that baled, but they wouldn’t travel with me.

What I Learned

People are likely to celebrate your wins, but as you are making your way up the mountain, some people may not have the ability, energy, capacity to support you as you go. Your mission in life might be more noble than mine was. Perhaps you are starting a business to serve others, you’re overcoming personal traumas, or you are rewriting your beliefs so you aren’t carrying the past into the present. Whatever it is, your journey to bravely face your mountain, you will most likely have to venture alone. However, it is up to you to prepare, support, encourage, nurture, motivate, invest, guide, care for and choose yourself.

When you are on the mountain alone, no one is coming to save you. You have to save yourself.

Sure, we may have peers who check in along our climb to see how we are doing, but we can’t solely rely on others. As we reach new elevations of growth, not everyone will be able to journey with us. Perhaps they are not ready, or they do not wish to reach the next summit of self-awareness. Their path is their own, and we do not have to follow them. However, you have a responsibility to yourself to keep moving toward your destination. 

If I had let the choice of this peer stop me from going on this adventure, I would have missed a great opportunity that improved my ability to commit to a goal and follow through.

You, the reader, are also capable of accomplishing your dreams and goals as well.

If you are interested in working with me you can email me at jenniferjolliff@hotmail.com to schedule a complementary connection call for coaching. Until next time, be brave and take heart.