Lessons from a rock climber

Step by step: Chrisalynn in the thick of the action.

I STARTED rock climbing as a sport about a decade ago. Although I have done it more for recreation, rather than as a competitive sport, I have identified life lessons that one can take away from the activity.

1. Community is crucial

Climbing is an individual sport, yet the climbing community plays a big role for most climbers. We learn together, and encourage, challenge and support each other. It is mandatory to perform a safety check with a buddy before climbing a high wall.

Meeting people in the climbing community is common because they are there to cheer you on when you’re on the wall even though you might be strangers. Climbing is a reminder that we need a community to thrive.

2. Power of analytical thinking

The activity of climbing is part physical and part mental. It is extremely difficult to rely on brute strength alone if your body doesn’t understand the sequence of moves.

Climbing is akin to putting together a puzzle, but instead of relying on an image of the finished result to guide you, you have to visualise the route and break it down into moves that you are physically able to complete. It creates body awareness and develops the skill of envisioning your moves and flow.

3. Facing your fears

When I am climbing, especially during difficult routes, there is little room to think about anything else. It forces me to be in the moment and face my fears, both rational and irrational, as I ascend.

You learn to cope with your fears. Sometimes, I shove my doubts into a box; other times, I coax myself into a move by giving allowance for failure.

4. Choosing to trust

I am often forced out of my physical and mental comfort zones when I am climbing. When things get scary, it’s easy to give up and not try. But if I want to ascend, I need to be able to exercise trust as I climb. I need to trust my climbing buddy to watch out for me, as well as the placement of my fingers and toes on the rocks.

Without a certain degree of trust, it is impossible to make progress – which leads me to...

5. Keeping the grit in your grip

Climbing is not only a test of strength and courage, it also demands perseverance. When my muscles are burning and my breathing is shallow, I tell myself to push a little more.

I try to keep going until my body gives way. I tell myself that it’s okay to fall or fail, but if I willingly give up, I’ll regret it.

Chrisalynn, 20, a student in Penang, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. To join Star-NiE’s online youth community, go to facebook.com/niebrats.