I can still see the incredulous look on my husband’s face when the concierge asked what excursions were we interested in doing during our stay. Without any hesitation, I blurted out, “Ziplining!”

My husband cocked his head, squinted and gave me that, “who-are-you?” look. So, I repeated myself, “ziplining." The concierge, sensing we were not fully aligned on choices, tried to distract me with photos of smiling people on booze cruise, horseback riding on the beach, and a couple gazing at one another during their romantic sunset dinner. I wasn’t sold, adventure was calling.

Now, what is most surprising about my desire to soar above the jungle canopy, is my typically risk-averse nature. In fact, I felt validated by a 1999 study that indicated most first-borns are least likely to engage in risky behavior (including extreme sports) because of messaging instilled in them by overly cautious and protective new parents. Clearly, I’m a late bloomer, because it took over 50 years to defiantly go rogue.

Long before we booked this trip and boarded a plane to our destination, I had made up my mind….I’m doing this. However, let me be clear, this new adventurous vibe didn’t happen overnight.

For more years than I’d like to admit, I had been holding myself back and limiting how I was showing up in my life. I played small because I didn’t believe I was worthy. Imposter syndrome followed me like a shadow and often made daily life a struggle. On one hand I wanted to become a better version of myself, but I would often trip over my old beliefs, so progress always looked like a series of two steps forward three steps back. Another fear was lack, specifically lack of money. In the past I would’ve questioned myself on how could I justify the expense for a thrill? I would relate the expense to the cost of a bill that had to be paid and immediately talked myself out of the experience. Fear and imposter syndrome may feel like forms of protection, but in reality they rob you of growth.

What changed? Me. Once I became self-aware, I realized I spent a lifetime battling old, negative programming. My outer world was a direct reflection of my running inner dialogue which vacillated at any given moment between, “You got this,” to “who do you think you are?” While working with my brilliant coach Audrey, I remember the three words that jolted my perception of reality: “Is it true?” I became quiet and studied her face. She allowed what seemed like hours to pass before asking again, “Are the things you are telling yourself true?” She didn’t need to repeat herself. Her question penetrated an inner wall and in my silence I heard the audible crack of a fissure in my belief forming.

My mind raced as I sorted through the negative thoughts that freely float through my mind rent free. They appeared anytime I dared to challenge the status quo of my life. To answer “Yes,” would make me sound like a psychopath, and to say, “No” would affirm this perception of myself was not my truth, yet I acted as though it were.

Audrey allowed me to linger in this space, before breaking the silence with her next question, “Why would you believe it’s true?” Tears streamed down my face as I pondered, “why indeed.”

I had, at long last, come face to face with the inner demon I had been battling for decades. No answer I could give made sense, I had simply accepted this belief. Shining light on this old programming created an awareness which demanded a shift in the story I was telling myself and the beliefs I created to support that story. In this void, I was presented an opportunity to rewrite my story in a way that allowed me to become the version of myself that had been trying to emerge.

On a sunny, and balmy Saturday morning in Punta Cana, my husband and I along with 20 other adventure-seeking souls, boarded the excursion van at our resort. Roughly an hour later, we were the first to check in at the park. I sensed my hubby’s skepticism as we made our way to the zip-line area and listened attentively as we received instructions on how to carry our lines. We climbed the never-ending staircase taking us to zipline one. I surprised myself at how calm I was, even as one of the crew members hooked my cable to the line and instructed us to “siéntate.” My mind raced as I tried to recall traces of high school Spanish to translate what he was saying. Before I could tell my husband, he was instructing us to sit down, I received a gentle push. Soaring above the trees was the most gratifying, fulfilling and exhilarating experience. The only sound was the buzz from the cable gliding across the zipline. I landed on the platform eager to experience the next line.

As we climbed a log staircase to tower two, the second of many climbs to come, I beamed from the inside-out. My husband asked if this is what I imagined when I signed us up for this adventure. It was far more and better than I could imagined. To reach the remaining ziplines, we had to crawl through a short tunnel carved in the rock, hike short distances in between zipline landings, and climb a rock wall. At the final landing, we stood at a vista point overlooking the beautiful and lush jungle of Cap Cana.

I knew in this moment, I transformed yet another belief about myself. I could sense my soul beaming. I had broken through a barrier and challenged myself to embrace adventure. I became a version of myself who challenged a fear and stretched so far outside of her comfort zone she soared.

Oh my friend, do yourself a favor and let go of your old fears and beliefs. Dare to change the story you’ve been telling yourself about who you are and what you can or should do. Life is meant to be lived. Adventure awaits you and it doesn’t have an age limit. I encourage you to stop seeing your age and your dream as something past its expiration date. You are never too old to live the life you want, you only have to choose.

Live Elevated,

Coach Elle~