3 Steps to Brave

"I never would have tried that section over again if I was by myself."

- Jen Kelly

Be honest with yourself, if you really want to improve you need to be willing to make a change in your habits!

I started Brave Endeavors to lend a hand and offer a process to help you be more brave and feel more confident both on the trail and in life. The below steps are implemented in my skills clinics in order to work towards successful outcomes like hitting drops or gaps, navigating tight switchbacks, or nailing that rock move you've been struggling with. While the following tips are specific to mountain biking, you may find they are relevant to many aspects of your life.

Here's the scenario: You are ready to progress on the bike. You want to improve but you are not sure how to get started or what to focus on. You make a promise to yourself: "This year I'll ride more and get better." But every time you ride you want to get a workout in and you somehow you forget to work on your skills. You only have 1.5 hrs and if you stop to re-do that section you just walked you won't make it back in time to make dinner and get little Johnny washed and ready for bed or finish up that last bit of work you told yourself you'd wrap up after your ride. Sound familiar?

One of my favorite quotes is, "Nothing changes until the pain of remaining the same is perceived as greater than the pain of change." If you want to actually improve your skills, you need to slow down and take the time to practice, be willing to suck for a bit, and allow yourself the space and time to grow. I boil this improvement strategy down into 3 steps:

1. Brutal Self Honesty

2. Step Slightly Outside your Comfort Zone

3. Witness Bravery - Bravery is Contagious

1. Brutal Self Honesty - Check in with yourself and acknowledge what you're willing to give in order to progress. You need to be willing to make a change from your normal routine if you want to see improvement. This could mean you ride 1 mile less in order to session a particular tricky section of trail you normally walk, or that you give yourself 8 extra minutes at the parking lot to practice your trackstands, wheelies, or compression wheel lifts.

If you know those changes aren't realistic, sign up for a skills clinic! Set aside time for you to improve and prioritize your goals! At my skills clinics, you will share with the group the features you are comfortable with and the features that scare the crap out of you. This self honesty sets you up for success by acknowledging where your comfort zone ends and discomfort begins.

3. Witness Bravery - Bravery is Contagious.

"I never would have ridden that section of trail, but I saw everyone else doing it and I knew I could do it." - Christine Ellenberger, summer skills series participant.

I heard similar sentiments over again from my summer skills series participants. Bravery is contagious. When you see one person accomplish something scary and their skill level is on par with yours, you gain confidence to try!

Set yourself up for success by surrounding yourself with individuals who are willing to be honest with themselves, step outside their comfort zone, and witness bravery unfold: both yours and others. What's the best place to witness bravery that you want a piece of? In a class of course! Check out my MTB Offerings for kids and adults!