Crossing From The Unknown

I had the pleasure of being put in a harness, pulled by wires 120 feet up into the air, and for a moment, stay there.

I saw other people do it before.  The wild shouting, how scary it was, yet how much fun they had.  They shared great stories about their experience, and egged me on.

I’ll admit, it was quite a ride, and one that I’d want to do again.

My most favorite part of the whole ride?

Pulling the trigger

When you’re at the top of the ride, suspended by cables 120 feet up in the air, the ride staff would then tell you to pull a little handle made of tough plastic cord, which would then let go of one of the cables, and send you hurtling to the ground. (in our case, water, since the ride was on top of a lake.)

There was much anxiety, nervousness, and even fear while we were being strapped in, left to hang, and pulled upward.

Then, there was a lot of excitement, exhilaration, fun, and surprise while we were dropping down, and swinging over the lake from end to end.

In between was the moment that changed it all, when I pulled the cord, “pulled the trigger,”  and just went for it.

 

You never really, really, know

I saw others do it.  Others shouting, screaming, cursing as they dove down and swung in free fall.  I heard other people tell their accounts, their feelings, and what they did to prepare themselves for the ride.

As well as what was running through their heads and hearts before, during, and after they pulled the cord.

And as I was listening to their stories and first-hand accounts.  I trusted them, and I believed them, but deep down inside I still didn’t really know what that felt like, and what it would take for me to go through with it.

Although I did heed some advice, I found that my experience was different from my friend’s, and that even the experience of pulling the cord, the “trigger,” was also different in my case.

You can hear all the stories and accounts, but until you’ve done it, you never really, really, know.

 

Make a decision to move forward

Not only for the ride, but in life, there are distinct points where we have to make decisions, to move from not knowing to knowing.  From where we are, to where we want to go.

There’s a moment of uncertainty, of doubting, of fear.  Of what’s to come next, “will I succeed?”, “Is this the best option?”, and all the other doubts and fears that come.

Those moments are decision moments, turning points.  Where you start to move from where you are, to a future where you want to be in, where you want to go.

And those moments can be as clear as crystal, and sometimes, clouded by all the fear, doubt, and obstacles we have, or we create for ourselves.

As I pulled the trigger, and we started to drop, then swing, and feel weightless, I felt the doubt and fear melt away, and replaced by excitement, thrill, and happiness.

Only when I pulled the trigger, and started our ride, did I move forward to really know.

 

Crossing from not knowing to knowing

By making the decision, taking action, and moving forward, I moved from not really knowing, to knowing, and continuing to know more.

I remember first learning how to speak in public and facilitate workshops.  I read so much material, and asked so many people.

It made sense in my head, all the theories were there, but until I actually mustered my guts and stood in front of an audience, I really didn’t knew what it took and how to do it.

Same with pulling the trigger for the ride.  Same with facing uncertainty, doubts, and fears in your life.

What’s stopping you may be weakened by preparation, information, and support and encouragement, but at the end of the day, it’s still you who has to make the decision, has to do something to move forward.

 

Make that leap

Only you can be the one to say what it will take for you to make the leap, to “pull the trigger”.  Try to see what has worked for you in the past in similar moments.  What did it feel like to break through?

That’s really why they’re called breakthroughs.  You’re literally breaking your obstacles and barriers, what’s there, or not there, that’s stopping you.

After I pulled the cord for the ride, I felt such confidence, relief, and even enjoyment from the ride that came after.

Maybe it won’t be that easy all the time in life, but the moments I made decisions in my life similar to the one in that ride, the relief, enjoyment, and confidence that came after felt great.  I feel thankful for the blessing that they are.

Now, I really didn’t know what was going to happen, for sure, when I pulled the trigger.

I just had to have a little confidence in myself, and some faith.

 

Have you ever made a decision you were happy to make, despite fears and doubts?  Please share in the comments below!