About a year and a half ago, I joined a gym I had always assumed was just for elite athletes—the kind of people who sprint effortlessly, lift like Olympians, and look completely at home in their bodies. In other words, not me.
To my surprise, while those folks are definitely there, so are a lot of regular people. People like me—showing up, doing their best, modifying where they need to, and trying to stay consistent. But still, every time I go, I see someone doing something I can’t imagine my body knowing how to do. Sometimes I think, “It would be cool if I could do that… but let’s be honest, I probably can’t.”
Last Friday, I had one of those mornings. I hadn’t slept well. I had a lot on my mind and wasn’t feeling particularly strong—physically or emotionally. I almost skipped the gym, but I knew I needed to do something to shift my energy. So I went.
When I got there, I saw the workout included an option for a rope climb.
Let me be clear: I have not attempted a rope climb since elementary school. And I have avoided it every single time it’s come up at the gym.
But for some reason—maybe stubbornness, maybe a tiny spark of curiosity—I walked up to the rope and grabbed it.
And I climbed.
All the way up.
And then, despite my inner monologue questioning what on earth I was doing, I did it again.
And then once more.
Sure, my leg got a little scraped. And no, I didn’t suddenly feel like a superhero or leave the gym ready to conquer a nation. But I felt something else—something better.
I felt proud.
Proud that I did something that scared me. Proud that I didn’t let the “I can’t” voice win. Proud that I listened to a deeper voice that said, “What if you just tried?”
It reminded me of something I often tell my clients:
Confidence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practice.
So often, when we’re not feeling confident or strong, we look at someone who seems like they have it all together and think, “If I were more like them, I’d try more things. I’d take more chances.”
But here’s the secret: even those confident people don’t always feel confident. They just keep showing up. They keep doing the thing—despite the fear, despite the doubt, despite the voice that says “maybe not.”
Confidence doesn’t come first. Action does.
It’s so easy to fall into patterns that feel safe and familiar. We build routines that keep us comfortable—but sometimes, they also keep us stuck.
I’m not suggesting you need to radically shake up your life or scale an actual rope (unless you want to!). But I am inviting you to ask yourself:
What’s one thing you’ve been telling yourself you can’t do?
What’s one area where you’ve been playing it small, not because it’s wrong, but because it feels safer?
What if you just tried?
What if you proved that voice in your head wrong, even just a little?
Let this be your invitation to try something new. To stretch into a part of yourself that you’ve quietly avoided. To find out what happens when you move toward the thing you think you can’t do.
Let this be your rope.
And if you want someone to walk alongside you as you take those steps—whether it’s in your relationships, your healing, or your personal growth—I have a few openings in my practice. I’d be honored to support you.
You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to be willing.
As always, I’m here. If you are ready to work on having the life you want, call me and let’s get started!