Understanding the Challenge of Modern Comforts I frequently see it with my clients: they struggle with any uncertainty because they are so used to having specific solutions to meet their every need. Feel cold? Simply turn the thermostat up a degree. Crave a particular type of food? Get it delivered any time. Today, our needs […]
The moment you have an idea, you identify a goal, or you encounter a new desire, you have already been set on an adventure. When Joseph Campbell mapped out the Hero’s Journey, he began with the Ordinary World—this is the status quo, the known, the predictable, the life you have lived for many years. This […]
Leadership is a funny thing. To pull from the infamous question to define porn: you know it when you see it – leadership is the same thing. You know it when you see it. Or to be even more opaque about it: you know it when you feel it. To further muddy the waters, leadership […]
I have blood streaming down my arm and into my jacket. My hands are jammed into the crack above my head, my legs are stretched out as wide as I can manage with my feet pressing against small divots on the granite wall, I am sweating bullets, and breathing so rapidly I fear that I […]
The patriarchy is a load of shit and it’s time to dismantle it. I’m saying this from my perch of privilege and you’re probably rolling your eyes. “Someone shut this white guy up.” “Matt, it is not your time to speak, here.” “Man, you better be quiet before you put your foot in your mouth.” […]
A fast and challenging single-track mountain bike descent. The crux moves of a rock climb with wild and disorienting exposure. Climbing a windy ridgeline trail in the driving rain. The sunrise on a still lake as loons fly overhead. Each of these experiences involuntarily creates an experience of mindfulness. The focus, novelty, and environment bring […]
The space between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is busy. Being busy can be good: gatherings with friends and family, traditions that ground you in a sense of place and community, and creating memories with those closest to us.
I use two methods every day to boost my mood, engage my mind, and involve my body—just like an actual adventure.
When it comes to finding adventure in your everyday life, you need to explore and identify the idea of the “Learning Zone”.
Although I’m a professional climber, I’ve found that we don’t need to scale a mountain to experience the mental health benefits of adventure. In fact, you can create adventure from right where you are.