29029: How “Impossible” Challenges Reveal Unseen Strengths
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
If we’re not actively breaking limiting beliefs – we’re stuck with them. Taking on seemingly impossible challenges together builds stronger bonds and unlocks the hidden potential in all of us. The process reveals how we can show up for ourselves, show up for others and ultimately overcome whatever hurdles life presents even in the face of challenges and adversity.
Create and share goals that seem beyond your capacity to develop yourself, your community and your potential.
Climbing 29,029 vertical feet (8,849M), the height of Everest, within 36 hours. The 29029 Everesting challenge is simple: climb up, gondola down, repeat. Since I was having a real shortage of adventure this summer, having just gotten back from hiking Kilimanjaro, I dug in this past weekend and took on the Everesting challenge at Mont-Tremblant which required 15 ascents to reach the goal.
The mountain was steep, the weather was wet, the trail was muddy – it was awe-inspiringly hard to complete. But what I loved most about this challenge —and all challenges that seem “impossible” — has nothing to do with any of that.
What I consistently love the most is something far deeper and more lasting. The deep sense of community, connection and camaraderie that only comfort-crushing, “impossible” adventures seems to create. There’s something about the shared challenge, the struggle and the work required to push past our perceived limits that brings out parts of ourselves that we rarely reveal – maybe even to ourselves.
The usual societal masks of titles, accomplishments and status start to fall away as our true natural capabilities are drawn forth. As we climbed — breathless and drenched from the rain — I watched as limiting beliefs were left behind and the power of the human spirit, that greater strength within all of us, began to shine through.
It’s in that light that we get a glimpse of who we truly are, what we’re actually capable of and an appreciation of the climb we’re all on, together.
That’s what makes 29029 and adventures like this so special. It is not about the completion or winning. The real benefit isn't an arbitrary rank or a physical achievement – it’s revealing the human potential within all of us and connections forged along the way.
Thank you to Greg Scheinman, the rockstar founder of Midlife Male (an incredible resource for those of us in middle age) for arranging a team of amazing people to take part in this. Congrats to our group and everyone that took part! It was, as Jesse Itzler says, “a life resume moment” I’ll never forget.
Key Idea
Embracing and sharing seemingly impossible challenges breaks down our own limiting beliefs, breaks down barriers between each other and strengthens trust in our ultimate potential. If we’re not actively breaking limiting beliefs – we’re stuck with them. Taking on seemingly impossible challenges together builds stronger bonds and unlocks the hidden potential in all of us. The process reveals how we can show up for ourselves, show up for others and ultimately overcome whatever hurdles life presents even in the face of challenges and adversity.
Takeaway
Create and share goals that seem beyond your capacity to develop yourself, your community and your potential.
Build your Movement
What’s something that seemed “impossible” that you already achieved? How did community play a role in your ability to overcome?
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