Safe versus Secure

Climbing the Buttress of Mt Aspiring evokes fear. This vertical band of schist that breaks away in your hands is a nerve-wracking climb that has taken many lives. You will not feel safe, but you can take deliberate action to secure yourself.

If you want to feel safe, give Aspiring a wide berth. There is a nice view from Lake Wanaka. In fact, you can stay in bed today and explore it safely on your device.

Summiting a peak is pure exuberance. Risk generates reward. To claim the reward, you must secure yourself. You must be fit, develop your climbing skills, choose the right climbing partner or guide, and be deliberate in securing yourself with patience, good equipment, and steady breathing.

When you master the tools to be secure, you will overcome incredible adversity. Through adversity you grow, achieve mastery and enjoy the delights of flow.

Staying in bed all day appears safe. It is dull. You become bored and go to digital places that will not serve you. You will miss collaboration with others and the wellbeing effects of nature and activity.

When we focus on being safe, we become fragile. When we learn how to be secure through adversity we become strong and resourceful.

Those kept safe by avoiding adversity are left to confront apathy, anxiety, and depression. Adversity is the crucible of growth. When we feel pressure to avoid risk, guide the fear towards curiosity. Use your thinking to engage rather than evade.

Give it a go even if a bit messy at first. Learn, adjust, persist. In time, risk and fear give way to mastery and reward. You are becoming secure.

As a parent or leader, a small shift in our thinking is all that is required. When thinking “How do we keep them safe?” we might reframe to “How can we help them navigate this adversity?”

For yourself, when you hear “How can I avoid this issue?” in your head, gently nudge it to “This is an interesting challenge. What can I do to master it?”

In this way we can move from safe to secure.