Dancing on a pole

As my head reached the top of the pole, my climbing slowed.

Two more rungs…

More like giant staples driven into the sides of the pole.

My right hand closed around the top rung, then I placed my left hand on the top of the pole itself.

I paused.

I looked across the treetops, taking in the mountain range that surrounded us.

Blue sky above, cloudless.

I forced myself not to look at the ground below.

I placed both hands on the top of the pole and balanced as I moved my feet onto the top 2 rungs.

Now I was perched 30 feet in the air, squatting on the top of a wooden pole no more than 10 inches across.

I placed my right foot on the top and began to slowly extend both legs as I stuck my arms out to either side for balance.

As I brought my left foot up to the pole top, I slipped.

I lost my balance and fell forward off the pole.

The rope attached to my climbing harness snapped tight, and my plunge to the earth slowed to a gentle descent.

When my feet touched ground, I thanked the two people grasping the other end of the rope.

I unclipped and looked back at the pole.

So close!

30 minutes ago, I had no idea I’d perform this little “pole dance” in front of my wife and my 5 youngest kids.

We were at a summer camp for families, and this activity was called the “Leap of Faith.”

(If you’ve ever done a high ropes course, you know what I’m talking about.)

Here’s a stock photo for those of you who don’t:

As soon as I saw the pole, I knew I had to climb it.

Why?

Because I’m “afraid of heights.”

This does not mean I logically fear heights, it means that when I am up high and look down, that I have an uncontrollable physiological reaction.

My stomach turns and I instantly feel dizzy.

Then a rush of adrenaline mixed with panic.

An automatic fight or flight response that I cannot suppress.

And I can’t stand it.

So I force myself to confront it.

And this was a good opportunity.

Even though every muscle in my body wanted to freeze up, and I wanted to close my eyes and throw up, logically I knew I probably wouldn’t die.

(Another shout out to my 2 rope holders.)

Besides, it’s kind of silly the way our ancient programming activates in modern situations.

Jumping off a 30-foot pole while wearing a safety harness is different than jumping off a 30-foot pole without one.

Running from a saber tooth tiger is different than being afraid to create content on social media.

But our nervous systems do not know the difference.

Palms sweaty,

knees weak,

arms are heavy…

The only way to break our unconscious, irrational responses is to confront them and overwhelm them with evidence that we will not die doing this.

Which is what my mentor, client and friend Stacey Lauren helps people do.

She created a framework called Do the Thing, and has helped thousands of people overcome the fears that hold them back from their goals and dreams.

(Here’s Stacey at her recent TedX talk.)

Later this month, Stacey is opening her flagship Find Your Voice Challenge.

The investment is $47, and the commitment is 10 minutes per day for 17 days.

This has already generated life-changing results for some people.

» Get more details here »

The Challenge begins on Sept. 23, so you’ve got some time to think about it.

Don’t worry, I’ll remind you as the deadline approaches.

You might as well jump.

Greg

P.S. My wife and most of my kids are all afraid of heights. We all climbed the pole to different heights and jumped off. Here’s 4 of us afterwards.

(the little one in the lower left is the only one not afraid of heights.)