This is my favorite time of year. The rainy season is over, yet the streams on the mountain are flowing freely. The mountain is lush and full of breathtaking wild flowers. One way of enjoying the lake is walking around it.

But lately I have been riding my mountain bike. You cover a lot more ground and there’s something about getting on the bike. You feel elevated-you feel invigorated.

Yesterday I rode from my house to Phoenix Lake which is approximately a mile and a half ride. On the far right edge of the lake you have a choice to continue on Lower Shaver up to Five Corners or to turn left and climb Fish Grade or Eldridge. Fish Grade for me has always been out of the question since it’s so steep. So my choice really was Eldridge or to continue straight.

I wanted more of a challenge so I decided on Eldridge. The slope on Eldridge is slightly elevated for the first 100 yards and then there is a 50 yard stretch in which the slope is greatly elevated before leveling off.

To say the least this stretch is a challenge; on some occasions I’ll get off my bike and walk or once I get to the top I’ll rest for a bit.
I wanted to break this pattern and tried a different approach which was truly transformative.

Once I started climbing the steep 50 yard stretch, instead of wondering if I could make it to the top, I focused on the step or two immediataely in front of me. It became a mental discipline. I didn’t look up to see how far I had to go. For me the choice was simple. By breaking it down into small segmentss I didn’t notice any slope at all. It was only when I looked up at the top of the incline that I noticed the steepness. As I focused on what was immediately in front of me I reached the top and continued on my way. I wasn’t tired or winded. It was as if I was riding on a level trail.

I realized now that it wasn’t the ride that made me tired, but how I felt about the ride. Like so many things in life, it isn’t what happens, but the meaning we give to what happens.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Mark Susnow, is an executive and life coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former trial attorney for 30 years, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. Mark’s new book, Dancing on the River…Navigating Life’s Changes will be released May 22, 2010.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 11:24 am and is filed under choosing happiness, finding joy and meaning in the midst of change, inspiration, life coach, life coaching. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.