Drive: Finding Fuel With An Empty Tank

Photo by Patrick Hendry

By Sterling Hawkins, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW

Several nights ago I watched the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: the quest to climb the world’s highest mountains in less than a year.” The film was released in November and chronicles the expedition of Nirmal Purja, a 38-year-old Nepali, mountain climber, former British Army Gurka, and Special Forces officer who embarks on a seemingly impossible quest to summit all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in seven months.

A newcomer to the world of high altitude climbing, Nirmal, who goes by Nims for short, discovered his love for climbing in 2012 when making a trek to Mt. Everest while on military leave. Against his family’s urging to remain in the military, Nims left military service and began seeking sponsorship to complete his mission to focus the attention of the world on the Nepalese Sherpa community. The Sherpas serve as elite guides and expert explorers and earn their living hosting expeditions for mountain climbers who come from around the world to the Himalayas to test their skill and endurance against the most majestic and deadliest mountains on the planet. Sherpas risk their lives each year, are underpaid, and lack recognition within the international climbing community. Nim’s expedition sought to change this by highlighting the invaluable service Sherpas provide to climbers at all skill levels.

The expedition, dubbed “Project Possible.” becomes a catchphrase for every obstacle and challenge Nims and his team face throughout the mission. Nims set 6 world records while completing this project and successfully accomplished what most in the climbing community said was impossible. Nims says “It’s about achieving the impossible in life, you just need to have a vision.”

As I reflected on this documentary, I asked myself the following questions: What keeps me going when I’m emotionally and physically drained? And, is it possible for me to refuel, recharge, and refresh while completing my own objectives? 2021 has required each of us to dig deep mentally and tap into our physical and emotional reserves in unique ways we are unaccustomed to. As I pondered these questions I identified three things that have helped me this year and thought I would share them with you as we approach 2022.

Acknowledge the Challenge

Before setting out on any mission you first have to decide what the mission is going to be and determine if you have the tools and resources needed to accomplish your goals. Perhaps you are already involved in a project or on a mission that has stalled, and you desperately need the motivation or essential resources to complete your mission successfully. In the film, the first thing Nims does is examine what he wants to do. He answers the question “what” before he attempts to answer the question of ‘how”. If we’re honest, most of us spend far too little time thinking about what it is we wish to accomplish at the micro-level. Looking at your tasks incrementally before you initiate them will help you to identify the best methods to navigate obstacles and avoid burnout or failure.

Embrace your Vulnerability

The second thing you can do to increase mental and physical stamina on any given task is to embrace your vulnerability. What this means simply is that you accept certain limitations as non-negotiable while leveraging your resources and strengths toward those aspects of the project that will yield the best returns for the amount of effort you put forth. What this looks like will depend a lot on your personality type and what methods you apply in solving specific problems that you encounter in the process. Nims is very ambitious and an over-achiever by nature who had already accomplished a rather impressive track record while serving in the Special Forces of the British Navy. He was no stranger to what others called impossible. In 14 Peaks Nims was simply facing new challenges that required him to assess what he thought was possible using his own definitions while not allowing others to completely define what they believed he should or shouldn’t attempt as it related to the mission.

An example of this was Nim’s decision to use oxygen when climbing at an altitude above 26,000 feet, referred to by climbers as the “death zone” where the lack of oxygen can quickly cause what is known as altitude sickness, which can result in headache, nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate and if left untreated, death. There is a decades-long debate about using oxygen when climbing at altitudes above 26,000 feet among purists in the climbing community. Nims made the decision early to climb with bottled oxygen to ensure that his efforts were not compromised by the unexpected. Altitude sickness can occur at any time on any high-altitude climb. Even among professional climbers. Therefore, Nims chose to use oxygen, so as to not jeopardize the mission or the members of his Team. Besides, he had nothing to prove. Two years earlier he had climbed and summited K2 without the use of oxygen. The decision to use oxygen on this mission allowed Nims to lead while maintaining his pace with the rest of the team.

Build a Support Network

This I believe is the most important of the three strategies. When we build a support network it enables us to remain objective by giving us a panoramic view of whatever we are attempting, by allowing us to harness the collective wisdom of others who may approach circumstances and situations differently than we would. And, by enhancing our options and increasing our intellectual and emotional capacity we are able to endure and push through roadblocks and challenges that could sabotage our mission. Attempting any challenge in life that poses a high risk requires you to face the possibility of undesirable outcomes. The recognition of failure, loss, and even death is a reality and an occupational hazard for some. For others, it is a chosen lifestyle. For those who risk their lives because it is their job and those who risk their lives for sport, the same dynamic is at work. Each is motivated by the desire to overcome challenges and excel in what they do. In the scientific community, this phenomenon is referred to as “hormesis” and is defined as the adaptive response of cells and organisms to moderate and intermittent stress. In laymen’s terms, something that could significantly impair or even kill you in high doses can make you stronger in low doses. If we apply this biological concept to everyday lives, in our work, in our family life, or in recreational activities, theoretically we should improve and grow stronger over time.

So what does this have to do with building a support network? Everything. Having a support network is like having a testing ground. It enables you to try new things take calculated risks you would be unable to take if you were trying something new on your own. Most importantly, a support network or team creates a safety net that allows you to grow, adapt, change, and develop your skillset. One of the side-effects of growth involves feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and just plain fear.

During the filming of 14 Peaks, Nims is asked what made him different from others unwilling to attempt this type of expedition? His answer surprised me. he answered-- “I have no fear.” I turned this over in my mind baffled, but think I now understand what he means. What he was saying I believe is that he has respect for the forces in nature that could kill him and would not focus on those forces in a vacuum. He would rely on the knowledge and expertise of each personally handpicked team member to supplement his own knowledge deficits to make what seemed impossible, possible.

New York Times columnist, Carl Richards, several years ago wrote about the feeling of being in, just a little over his head as a source of motivation in his work. He wrote that while it seems counterintuitive— “there’s something about a sink or swim environment that excites me.” And, that trying new things often forces you to face a steep learning curve. The very act of taking on something new helps us to become better at work overall. He emphasizes that this approach requires moderation. He writes— “you can’t spend your whole life in the deep end, as this is a recipe for drowning. Muscles get tired. So just like physical exercise, you have to take breaks. You have to calibrate the stress and rest cycle of any entrepreneurial or creative work. He concludes that the tangible benefits that come from stepping outside our comfort zone, is that you can become more excited about your work which is a surefire way to improve performance.

To conclude, recognizing your need for fuel in daily life involves each of these practices: Acknowledging your challenges, Embracing your vulnerabilities, and Building a support network. Your need for fuel in daily life may be less challenging than it was for Nims and his team, but no less important. Recognition for most of us requires us to acknowledge and accept what our physical body most needs. Simply planning to get a good night’s sleep and to exercise. Or, stopping to eat lunch. We must fight the temptation to skip or defer these health practices. Rest, exercise and nutrition increase your body’s immune response and fuel efficiency by giving it what it needs to run longer without the need for chemical stimulants and energy boosters. This by far is the best way to guarantee you never run on empty. A good support network can help build accountability between its members and ensure that everyone is working to overcome the mental and physical challenges that result from working on lengthy projects that come with inevitable setbacks and risks.

Running out of fuel for high-altitude climbers means more than fueling to meet a deadline, delivering a product or service on time, or losing to other competitors. Running out of fuel could literally cost them their life. Building reserve and maintaining it involves continual conservation of your physical, mental, and emotional energy. You have to decide what’s best and remember what things have made it difficult for you in the past, causing you to become apathetic or disillusioned with your objectives. Fuel economy whatever your mission involves each of these three elements and more. Make them a part of your pre-check list before beginning your next project.

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References:

Clarke, G., Jones, T. (2021, November 29 ) 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. Retrieved from https://www.netflix.com/title/81464765

Lawrence, A. (2021, December 3). 14 Peaks: the quest to climb the world’s highest mountains in less than a year. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/03/nirmal-purja-mountaineer-14-peaks-documentary

Richards, C. (2016) The Paradox of Finding Motivation Through Fear.  New York Times.  Retrieved on 4 December 2021. Available https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/your-money/the-paradox-of-finding-motivation-through-fear.html