M I N D S E T C O L U M N
M I N D S E T C O L U M N
LETTING GO IN LADAKH
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No way I ’ m getting on a horse !” I stated vehemently , stomach churning . I enjoy riding normally , but we were in Ladakh , on the mountainous Tibetan Plateau . Trails are narrow dusty threads along steep cliffs and slopes , or rocky traverses of landslides and glacial torrents . We had already watched in horror as an over-laden pony-sized pack horse slipped while struggling up a loose steep winding trail , tumbling backwards over the edge , screaming in pain from fatal injuries .
I was still muttering “ no way ” next morning as menacing clouds dumped rain and bits of hail on our camp . At 4,700 metres altitude , we needed to cross another 5,200 metre pass that day . My handicap was a nasty antibiotic-defying chest infection , making breathing feel like glass shards stabbing my chest . Waiting for me left everyone exposed for longer .
The fear of being on a horse over that terrain , up those scary slopes and tumbling down with it was strong . So was my ego insisting I should trek , not ride like an invalid . Such was my self-talk as I adjusted my hiking pole , pulled my rain jacket closer and strode off . An excruciating 30 minutes later , in tears , I made myself ask to ride .
Mounted , I put my mindset training in action taking the focus off my scary stories , and on to helping my horse keep moving up . Feeling part of a team , I actually started enjoying the experience . After all , how special is horse riding in the mountains ? Adventure is what I love , what I ’ d come for , and this was certainly adventure !
A herd of wild deer darted across the ridge top , and a huge bone-eating vulture soared overhead . The view on the pass was literally breath-taking – a dramatic drop , soaring up to snow-capped jagged peaks of a much higher range . My precious mount was exhausted . I found her a couple of mouthfuls of cloud-kissed moist vegetation , then she napped in the sun while I soaked it all in .
We have choices , even when we tell ourselves otherwise … sometimes we just have to put our fears and ego aside , and find a different way forward .
Sue Lester is the author of The Face Within – How to Change Your Unconscious Blueprint and is now working on her second book Answering The Call To Adventure . Sue is also a mindset coach at www . GrowingContent . com . au .
ISSUE 2 : JAN - MAR 2017 37