The Key to Claiming Our Power: Victim – Warrior – Master

Do you know how you give your power away?  Many of us don’t know, or we would be masterful in every area of our lives readily, without trying.
 
Last month I was with a group of friends.  We were out for our weekly rock climbing excursion.  On the way down we spotted a new climb on our tick-list.  It was a pinnacle that shot up about 70 feet.  The only way up was to climb and set up an anchor at the top.  The only way down was to repel.
 
I had climbed this towering pinnacle before, but never as the lead climber.  We pulled over.  As we approached the climb we looked up towards this towering beauty with the question, ‘Can we pull this off?’  We were all relatively new to lead climbing.
 
Nobody wanted to attempt it just yet.  I checked in with my gut.  Felt plausible.  I checked with my heart… “yes!” it said.  I checked with my head and knew, “If I’d climbed it before, I could do it again.”
 
“Ok.”  I told my crew.  “I’ll lead it.”
 
Nervous, but positive and willful, I got my gear primed to go.
 
There is an ancient teaching of the Toltecs.  They teach us that we are born into the world as a victim.  We are dependent on our parents to support us, shape us and eventually deliver us into adulthood.   Some of us remain a victim, even though we have aged into adulthood.  Do you know some of these people?
 
Warrior, they teach, is the next phase needed to remove ourselves from victim and to step into our power and take a stand for our life, community, family, values and/or what we are passionate about in the world.
 
As I began my ascent, I began to realize I could master this climb from a place of certainty and grace, or I could back down if needed.  Either outcome, I decided, was my warrior taking care of the best possible outcome: the safety of my self and my crew.  My victim was placed aside the minute I chose, “yes”.
 
Warrior therefor, is an ingredient leading us towards mastery.
 
As I climbed around the corner, leaving the safety and certainty of the ground I felt empowered.  As I neared the top and realized one fall would entail a 15 ft drop, I began to shake with nervous avidity.  I focused myself and continued to breath through the fear.  I reminded myself, ‘This is possible.  You’ve got this.’
 
Reaching the top with one last push, I reached the summit, shakes and all.  I quickly tied into an anchor and secured the top belay that would allow everyone else to come up.  I felt exhilarated and free! 
 
As Susan Jeffers states in her work, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, “Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness.”
 
My question to you, in what areas of your life do you feel stuck, or pinched off?  What could mastery in this area look like if you weren’t pinched off?  What does your inner warrior have to say about taking your next steps towards a new enthralling possibility? 

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