My Jungle Lessons

I do my annual stress test in the Jungle. If you are wondering why I prefer animals to doctors, well, it’s an interesting choice, isn’t it? For now, though, I will let the doctors rest in peace. I was referring to my Sabarimalai Trek through the long path, which totals almost fifty kilometers of walking through thick forests and mountains. It’s a tough trek, especially given that we don’t even go for a walk in the park nowadays. So, what’s the big deal? A lot of people do this.

The deal is the reason I’m writing this – every year this walk in the jungle has taught me something and there is one consistent theme in that, and you know what that is - FACE YOUR FEARS. The more you run, the more they chase you.

The Trek…

I like to do this trek because it’s a real ego buster, brings me back to reality, and makes me realize that I’m a small speck in this big world. No technology, no sophistication just good old nature. Sleeping in the forest, having a bath in cold river water, and walking, of course. Simple and grounding experiences, that help clear the ego fog a bit. Sounds pretty cool so far, right? So where does fear fit in? I’m getting there…

The walking that I casually mentioned is doable, but it’s a challenge with at least three really steep mountains that test your stamina and willpower. In the ten-plus times, I’ve done this, there have been times when I thought I was getting a heart attack, and once I almost had a sunstroke. A few times I had severe leech bites and took a long time to recover. 

So, for many years I would secretly hope till the last minute that somehow, we would skip the first route and just take the shorter route that most people take but alas that never happened.

 One year and this was after I had a particularly difficult time in the previous year, I made full preparations for leeches, but for my plan to work it shouldn’t rain, and then what happens within the first ten minutes of my walk? There is a heavy downpour, and all my best-laid plans went for a toss. And I had to “Face my Fears.” That time, I decided that I was going to just surrender and accept, that whatever happens, happens, but I will just go on. There are three simple but powerful lessons I have learned over the many years that I have done this, and over time, they have not only changed my fearful outlook to a more positive one but also changed my life and I want to share them here with you.

My Three Powerful Jungle Lessons…

Jungle Lesson #1: One Step at a Time

When I am climbing up and instead of my next step I keep looking up and seeing how big the mountain is and how far I need to go, it immediately saps my motivation. Instead, I know my destination, but I just focus on the next step and the next one and it takes discipline to do this. Your temptation to look up is quite high, but even if I get tempted once in a way, I keep coming back to the one-step-at-a-time strategy.

The jungle lesson for me is - don’t look too far ahead and try to control everything. Just focus on the immediate next steps FOCUS ON THE NOW.

Jungle Lesson #2: Keep Moving Forward

The second big lesson from the mountains… Keep moving forward at your own pace, no need to compete with others, but also don’t lose your own momentum - hydrate, eat something, refresh yourself every now and then but keep moving forward. 

The jungle lesson from this is to take care of yourself, don’t compare with others and become miserable, know your abilities and limitations, but keep the momentum going and if you keep moving you will reach YOUR destination

Jungle Lesson #3: Have Faith and Enjoy the Journey

The third and really big lesson…Trust and keep the faith, and enjoy the journey - accept your fears, but trust and have faith that you will be taken care of. Sometimes the path is treacherous and your fear is peaking, your legs are shaking your mind is protesting but there is only one way and that way is to move ahead with faith. 

I accept my limitations; I know that a mistake could very well cause me injury if not death and yet I have this deep knowing that I Can Do This because there is something beyond my small being that is helping me on this path. That surrender does it all.

And yes, despite the hardship - I pause and appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of creation and those small pauses help me appreciate and be grateful for how blessed I am.

The lesson from this is, we need to learn to surrender our ego, and accept our circumstances, but always keep the faith that eventually we will reach a good place, and while doing this, also learn to enjoy the ups and downs, for life is a rollercoaster. But when I enjoy the ride despite my fears, I remember the journey fondly.

In the end, every time I have done this, it’s been totally worth it and I keep going back to face my fears.

When we face our fears and act despite them - Anything is Possible and my jungle lessons have taught me that!