Is walking 1,000 miles pulling my pulk in arctic conditions more about physical or mental fitness?

A question I often get asked. So many people asking how I train for such an adventure and is it hard!

Some feel it’s more about my physical fitness than mental fitness, some think otherwise where it’s mainly about mental fitness. For the majority, their opinion is honest speculation, or they may have read a book! How would they know if they have never pushed themselves beyond the norm? It’s a bit like someone giving you advice about something you want to achieve, and they haven’t even tried or succeeded themselves at whatever it is you are setting out to achieve!

If I’m being totally honest, I don’t have the equipment to measure the difference between mental and physical.

However, what I can tell you is, each part has a role to play, and I want to put a metaphorical situation to you;

A technique for harnessing your emotions to your advantage;

Close your eyes, and imagine for a second that someone or something in your life who means everything to you, needs your help. They are stranded hundreds of miles away and you have to get to them urgently. 

All public and personal transportation has broken down and you have to walk to them.

You have never walked or run hundreds of miles. Potentially never run or walked a marathon. yet you know that if you don’t reach them, the worst case scenarios could happen to them, and failure is not an option. Your mind has told you that you will make this journey and not even think twice about. Before you even realise it, your subconscious mind has taken control!

But hang on a minute, what do you do? Your conscious mind, plus your fight or flight system may also be kicking in. Instructing you to consider standing back and saying your goodbye to them. Afterall your conscious mind knows you’ve never run or walked the distance and you’re certainly not fit enough in your conscious mind.

Then your emotions begin to kick in and say otherwise. Instructing you to get on your feet, prepare for the journey and once you have all you need, then set off with abolsute intent on getting to your loved one no matter what it takes. Your emotions are now beginning to overide your logic. You don’t care, because you love them so much, you would move mountains to get to them (metaphorically of course).

Yes, for most people, saying a final goodbye is not an option, with the only option being, to get to their loved one regardless of the perceived journey ahead.

Now imagine you are applying your emotions to your goals, aims and objectives in life.

Your approach to your journey of life can be very siimilar if you choose to engage your powerful emotional drivers within you. Often eradicating any limiting beliefs, social conditioning, phobias, bad habits and much more. 

How you connect with your emotions on a deep powerful level is where training your mind requires practice and correct guidance and support in a way that suits you. Remember, everyone is different, so it’s not a one size fits all approach to training your mind. You need to understand your programming first.

Insight to my mindset when training;

So to give you an example of my training for walking 1,000 miles in extreme conditions in the Yukon and Alaskan wilderness does require plenty of physical training if I want my journey to be enjoyable. Whilst writing part of this artcile, it’s 5pm Friday 24th July 2020 and I will be getting up at 4am in the morning. Breakfast and a 1 hour drive to walk 26 miles pulling my trye across unforgiving terrain and hills. As you can imagine, at times my mind can scream at me telling me to stop not only within the first 10 minutes of training but at various points. 

Guess what, I tell my bear ( my mind) where to go! If I don’t train my body, there is every chance that my first few days or week on the 1,000 mile arctic trek, whilst my body adapts will be painful, mentally draining, and potentially run the risk of an injury.

Some say I’m lucky to have a mindset that can be so determined. I say I created it this way through understanding my mind and working a proven process I practice with clients.

So what is equally important, is my daily training on my mind, even though I have studied, applied and practiced mindset techniques for many years. I never take it for granted and continue to practice daily! 

A mix of mindful programming, visualisation, mental strategy planning, meditation and much more every day. Yes, my mind can sometimes try and tell me that I’m mad, reckless and crazy. I mean, I have enough people around me telling me that anyway, so why wouldn’t my mind tell me otherwise. After all, this is the effect of social conditioning at it’s best. Other people imposing their outlook on life and limiting beliefs upon you. The crazy thing is that 99% of the people telling me it’s reckless, crazy, pointless and much more, are people who don’t do much themselves. This is not an attack on them, it’s just their way in life, but I refuse to allow others to influence my passion for adventure however big or small. 

If you have a dream, goal or ambition etc, yes listen to what’s being said by people who have achieved or demonstrate success in the area you are striving to succeed within. But don’t allow those that haven’t or don’t pursue a life achieving the things you are setting out to ahieve to tell you otherwise.

So, when things begin tough, the important thing is connecting with your emotional intent, which can lead to you eradicating habits that no longer serve you, your desire for change and success and much more. 

How you may ask, do you connect with your emotional driver?

Start with a simple exercise and set yourself off for success, understand where you are wanting to go, what are you wanting to achieve, what it will feel like when you have achieved it. Also look at the potential variables, influencers in your life both positive and negative, your strategy and plan of action. Then imagine teh emotions you will feel completing  your goal. Be prepared to adapt along the way. 

Yes, for many, they may need to understand their key drivers for wanting to achieve xyz. You may even want to look at your programming of your mind, but this is just a starting point to get you going. I’d naturally encourage gaining a deeper understanding of your mind. This way you can take yourself to the next level if you desire.

So, when I begin walking 1,000 miles, whilst I have my eyes on the destination, I’m also fully alert for change along the journey and ready to adapt to the environment. I’ll explain in my next blog about training your mind for adaptability and working with the unknown curve balls of life.

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Warmest wishes

Walking With My Bear.