As a new hiker, there are times when I think to myself, “I can do this” and then in the next thought, “I can’t do this” just to swing back to the “I can”. This kind of thinking really was starting to take its toll on my sense of hiking accomplishment. So I sort of changed my thinking to help me get through those really tough climbs or steep descents that scare the crap out of me…

One step at a time, one blaze at a time, one trail at a time…

By thinking this way I have already acknowledged that what I’m doing is not easy for me, but that I have no choice to go on. At some point I will reach the top/bottom/end of the trail. Worrying about whether or not I’ll be able to make it isn’t even a factor… I have no choice. I walked into the woods, I’m going to have to walk out…

So what’s your mantra? What situations do you need that little extra self motivation?