Doug Sundheim • Executive Coach, New York City • dms@clarityconsulting.com posted:

“Do you think the people who were trying to reach the top of Everest were not full of doubts? For a hundred years, people tried and lost their lives. Not even their dead bodies came back. But still, more people tried…risking…knowing that they may never come back. Why? Because it was worth it. Because in the very risk something is born inside you: the center. It is born only in the risk. That’s the beauty of risk, the gift of risk.” –Paraphrased from Osho (1931-1990), Indian Professor of Philosophy, Spiritual master

Six years ago, while coaching a client, I stumbled upon a very important question.

We were talking about the idea of living with “no regrets” when I asked him, “When in your life did you feel most alive?“

He reflected for a moment and told me about the summer he overcame his fear of water and learned to sail.

When he finished he was grinning ear-to-ear.

Subsequently, I have asked hundreds of people the same question and have been struck by the similarity of their answers.

In particular I’ve noticed 3 themes:

(1) Nearly everyone describes a scenario in which they pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and took risks.

(2) The OUTCOME of taking the risk is rarely the main thrust of the story — it’s usually the process of taking them that they remember most fondly.

(3) When people finish their story, they’ve often got a big smile on their face.

Raven’s risks?

In less than a month, I’ll be climbing Jade Mountain on foot, the tallest mountain in Taiwan, carrying 6-7 kilos (excruciatingly heavy if you need to climb the whole day, much more a weekend) load.

I heard it’s not easy nor is it guaranteed safe, but long story short (and yes, there’s a long story behind it), I’m going.

Whether what I’m doing is cool, or absolutely crazy, is just up for you to judge… but yes, that’s one way of stepping out of the comfort zone.

And yes, I betcha, I’d be complaining all the way through, murmuring under my breath, “Why the heck did I get myself into this?” a thousand times.

But I also do know that if I succeed with this feat, I’d also be grinning ear to ear with pride and achievement that “Yes, I can do it.”

Hey, it may not be Everest, but heck, Jade Mountain’s not bad already!

And if I fail, at least, I can say, I tried. 🙂

Otherwise, sorry for the lack of posts.

Yes, I’m still very much alive, albeit just very busy with my NEW job, working 12-hour days. Hence, I get to work before 7:45AM daily, working my ass off until around 7:30PM, without even considering it as an overtime.

Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really made the right decision…

I work long hours, get slightly less pay and no longer have an active as a social life as I used to have (though I’ve done my best to fill it in with the regular wallclimbing, exercising, socializing and ahem, dating).

If I even sleep at 1AM, it’s almost impossible to wake up on time without a headache.

Ed was right when he said, “Who parties and gets drunk every night????? I am in bed at 10 and well rested for the day ahead. No one can get drunk all night and do this job….and anyone who says otherwise is lying.”

Yes guys, that’s now me… except I try to sleep before midnight (and fail).

Hello stress.

Goodbye life.

Hope these risks and stepping out of the comfort zone pay out in the end.

But at the very least, even though you can say I’m physically exhausted at an almost daily basis, I am at least, mentally excited.

And maybe that’s what life is all about.

The challenge.

C’est la vie, and again, apologize for the blogging lag. I’ll try to post more often! Ciao!