Our adaptability to focus on what is important in a situation determines our outcome. Sometimes we may need to adapt in an instant without warning and for a longer than expected duration. 2020 is a year that has had many of us facing focus dilemmas.

One of my passions is hiking mountains typically those that require more than a day to accomplish, following a trail that goes to the peak.

I love the sheer challenge of hiking from the physical aspect and the insights I gain into myself through the lived experience.

There are parallels to be drawn between mountain hiking and adapting our focus to be future-ready. Let me explain.

Perspective – long versus short

Most of my longer hikes, longer than a day, have been in Malaysia. The longest being an 8-day hike to Mount Tahan, the highest peak in West Malaysia. It is 110km round trip hike through the jungle that starts at the ranger’s office at the national park.

Being equatorial the hike is through dense rainforest jungle predominantly under the canopy of large trees. I carried my own food, tent, clothes, and water was purified river water.

The thing with an endurance hike like this is that you start without the end in sight. The peak of Tahan is not visible from the national park. I had a map in hand and the peak marked on it, but I was starting with an aim of the peak in my mind. I call this the long view. I set off with vigour and vitality but a few kilometres in the perspective soon changed to one of a short view.

This is even more literal in Malaysia as the dense canopy and growth only allows for short views of the trail. With no real view of the path or terrain ahead, the initial vitality soon turns to one of endurance, sustained speed ahead. Putting one step after the other to move forward.

Focus – Out versus In

The route to climbing Mount Tahan is by traversing several hills and valleys (and rivers) before making the final ascent up to the peak. The initial hills, at the lower elevation, are densely covered that the only way you knew you had reached a ridge was when you found yourself going downhill again. 

If you are lucky some ridges have a small clearing. and it is here that you can look out into the rainforest. It is a feeling that I am finding hard to even describe here. After walking many kilometres with no view to then come to a point that provides a reference (long view) of where you are, I was filled with wonder.

But it is a paradox of sorts. You have a reference, you see out and far, but you still do not really know where you are. You are a point on a trail, but you cannot validate it. The jungle looks the same everywhere.

I did this 25 years ago before the arrival of smartphones and personal GPS equipment. I had a compass!

Though nowhere near the peak and just a point on the trail, it does bring perspective. A point in the bigger picture that motivates to push ahead. It is this feeling that kept me going until the next clearing (long view).

Because, soon after as I continued my hike I was back in the short view, walking and persevering along the trail, moving forward.

This inward focus can be a lonely and sometimes depressing place. Moreover, I was confronted by the many leeches that fed on my blood, heavy downpours and swollen rivers that needed crossing.

But I pushed ahead. The intermittent long views, outward focus, gave me the validation of my goal, to climb Mount Tahan. The short view, inward focus, gave me the inner power to endure one step after the other.

Execution – vitality versus endurance

I have done a few endurance events to know that it is all about the individual.

Though the outcome is dependent on the vitality to achieve, it is powered by the endurance to persevere.

The long view is about the outcome whilst the short view is about identity.

I embarked on my hike with my goal in mind but unsure of my outcome. I had the long view of the peak, but I also knew getting there could involve a variety of challenges. The possibility of many eventualities I could not account for and so there was a sense of bounded optimism (hope with truth) mixed with the vigour and vitality when I first set off.

The jungle is a harsh place and making choices wisely in the moment is key. Managing the shift between vitality and endurance is crucial.

My crash test dummy moment

As it turns out the jungle had a challenge for me. The leeches, crossing swollen rivers were all manageable. However, close to the peak, on the fourth day, I accidentally stepped on a hornet’s nest and was immediately stung all over my body rendering me unconscious. I regained consciousness shortly after but only realised then that I was allergic to hornet stings. (I was later told by my doctor that I could have died).

To keep it brief. I recovered (or so I thought) and proceeded to the peak (it was 2 km away) but my body progressively fatigued and the return to the campsite took longer than expected.

It became the day that I would not forget for the rest of my life.

I felt like a crash test dummy going at full speed into a wall. Again, to keep it brief, after assessing all possible options, the best option was to walk 3 days back to the ranger’s office. The guide did not carry any communication device. So, help was still 3 days away, the time needed for him to get back and alert the rangers to initiate a helicopter rescue. I decided I would walk it.

The return was all about endurance. I had reached the peak and I was mentally energised by it but physically beaten. My body did fight the poison with time, but it was not at optimal performance. It was up to me to get me back to the ranger’s office. Which is what I did. In my mind I saw the ranger’s office. Though my body fought me, my focus got me back.

I now carry antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and pain killers on any outdoor expedition.

Choose your focus

We need both, the outward and inward focus to function effectively and traverse both states but generally with a bias for outward focus. But sometimes, such as 2020, we require a more conscious inward focus to avoid the wall and keep going.

Finding certainty within yourself in uncertain times.

Are you able to choose your focus to adapt in times of change? Let me know, connect with me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com