Our Version of the Climb

Welcome back to Mind by Fire — Yesterday Netflix streamed Skyscraper Live — a free-solo climb where Alex Honnold climbed a skyscraper in Taipei with no rope and no harness.

What matters here isn’t the spectacle.
It’s what his interviews around the climb reveal about how he prepares for fear and pressure — and how closely that lines up with the tools we talk about in this letter.

This isn’t about climbing.
It’s about how regulation actually works when the nervous system is activated.

Brain-Based Insight — Fear as Sensation

When asked about fear, Honnold starts with framing, not elimination.

He asks himself:
“What does fear feel like in your body?”

His answer is straightforward:

• excitement

• nervousness

• tingling energy

• a general anxiousness

The point isn’t labeling it as fear.

It’s recognizing that what shows up in the body is sensation, and sensation doesn’t automatically dictate action.

His approach is simple:

That distinction — sensation versus response — is regulation.

Self-Talk and Regulation

When something unexpected happens, the body responds with adrenaline regardless.

His self-talk isn’t motivational.
It’s procedural.

“Typically, my self-talk just has to do with taking some deep breaths and calming down my body.”

Then the key line:

“By the time you fully register what’s happening, it’s already happened — and you’re still there.”

So the task becomes:

• calm the body

• compose yourself

• take the time you need

• return to what you were doing

There’s no rush.
No pressure to move fast.

The goal isn’t preventing the adrenaline response.
It’s settling the system after it shows up and continuing.

Visualization — Preparing for the Climb

When he talks about preparation, visualization is part of it.

He visualizes the climb going well — moving through sequences, feeling solid on the wall, knowing the holds.

But he doesn’t stop there.

He also visualizes where things could go wrong — slips, missed holds, moments where something doesn’t go as planned.

That second part matters.

Visualizing success builds familiarity.
Visualizing failure reduces surprise.

Together, they allow him to stay composed if the situation deviates from plan, instead of reacting as if something unexpected has happened.

Reset Ritual — Apply the Same Tools

When pressure shows up:

1. Ask what you’re feeling
   Nervousness? Excitement? Activation?

2. Treat it as sensation, not instruction
   Feeling something doesn’t require reacting to it.

3. Calm the body first
   Slow down. Breathe. Take the time you need.

4. Return to the task
   Continue from a regulated state.

Reflection — Our Version of the Climb

Without taking anything away from how significant that climb was — or how nerve-wracking it was to watch — it actually heightened my interest even more in the nervous system.

Not just the feat itself, but hearing how those tools were applied to accomplish it.

Our challenges show up differently every day.
They’re shaped by our own experiences, responsibilities, and environments.
But in many ways, they’re our version of a free-solo climb.

Life is going to happen.
There will be good days and bad days.

That’s why these tools aren’t meant to be used only in crisis — they’re meant to be practiced when things are calm, so they’re available when things aren’t.

They help regulate how we feel when pressure shows up.
They ground us.
They build resilience.
They make us mentally stronger over time.

And when we practice them — when we show up for ourselves consistently — we don’t just benefit personally.

We become steadier.
More present.
More reliable.

An anchor for our spouse.
Our kids.
Our family.
The people who depend on us.

That’s the real application.

Not eliminating challenge —
but learning how to move through it with clarity, composure, and trust in ourselves.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.