Are there things in life or in business that you really want to do but don’t have all the answers before you try? It’s not about being reckless but about pushing boundaries. Do a thorough safety check, train well, practice and then – Take the Leap!

There is something about adventure that calls out to me, makes me feel alive, and truly excites me.

When you overcome extreme fear, fatigue, and self-doubt and keep pushing, you meet the best version of yourself.

As a high-altitude trekker, advanced scuba diver, certified paraglider and someone who has enjoyed sky diving; I have loved every minute of a variety of adventure sports. While it’s all very thrilling, I have also learnt lessons from the mighty mountains and the mysterious oceans that stayed with me- well after the adventure.

If you are not uncomfortable, you are not growing!

My first high altitude trek was a year after I started working and I immediately fell in love with the Himalayas. They were mysterious, magical, and they beckoned me to explore.

But then life took over and I got caught up with work and family responsibilities until one day, years later, when I was looking to put myself outside my comfort zone, I signed up for a trek to Everest Base Camp. Just like that!

What followed was a couple of months of focused training to gear up for the trek before I finally arrived in Nepal. Over the next 2 weeks, I pushed myself through high altitude sickness, exhaustion and physical discomfort. But what I remember is that it turned out to be the best journey of my life as I walked through beautiful villages in Nepal surrounded by the amazing Himalayas.

Reaching Everest Base Camp (EBC) and enroute seeing the mighty Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam and the entire Himalayan range was truly awe- inspiring and worth every bit of the struggle. I also summited Kala Patthar (18,129 feet) which is higher than EBC and from where you can enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Everest.

There was no stopping after that – I went to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu and closer home to the Valley of Flowers, Har Ki Dun, Hemkund Sahib and Spiti.

I started making friends with discomfort and fear. It’s true; unless you do something that makes you uncomfortable and pushes you out of your comfort zone, you don’t grow!

 When the destination seems too distant, Look at how far you have come!

There are moments in every trek when you look up at the mountain and it begins to daunt you. Day 2 of the Everest Base Camp trek on the way to Namche Bazaar; is when you get a taste of what you have signed up for. At one such moment; I looked back and seeing how much ground I covered, gave me strength.

When the destination seems daunting, pause and look at how far you have come. Pat yourself on the back and continue; because if you have made it this far; you will make it ahead.

When you give it your all and still lose; you haven’t really lost!

Sometime back, I embarked on a solo trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro. At a height of 19,341 feet this was higher than Everest Base Camp (17,593 feet).

The other challenge is the altitude gain: From the start to the peak is about 14000 feet to be covered in 5 days. EBC required climbing 8000 feet over 9 days. This means that the body needs to quickly adapt to sharp altitude gains over a much shorter period with no acclimatisation stops. The summit push for Mt. Kilimanjaro starts at midnight and that day you need to trek for 14-16 hours to reach the summit and then head down to the base camp. Temperatures are -20 degrees Celsius and the winds are strong as you head for the summit. That day the mountain was out of my league and 100 meters below the summit I made the difficult decision of giving up. I had given it my all and didn’t have anything left to give – it was a choice between my safety and my ambition. Safety won because the mountain will always be there but pushing oneself unreasonably can be dangerous.

While I was really disappointed that I couldn’t summit, there was no regret as I had given it everything I had.  What now stays with me is that I did my best -- you win some and lose some, but you give it everything you have!

 Take the leap

Somewhere during this time; I also explored the oceans during my trips across the world and enjoyed recreational scuba diving. I signed up for an Open Water and Advanced Scuba diving course. It`s a whole new world underwater – bursting with life, colours and its own share of mysteries; something that we can't fathom from the surface. That moment when you have to jump from your boat into the ocean is thrilling – you don’t know what awaits you. Every dive is different and brings its own set of surprises  – from the initial struggles of managing buoyancy; adjusting air pressure, managing visibility, and monitoring your equipment to being careful about maintaining sufficient distance from the marine life you see around you.

Skydiving is similar. As you are strapped in your seat and the plane climbs higher and higher over the clouds; you wonder what you have signed up for. And then, strapped to your instructor, you move to the edge of the aircraft and jump into nothing. That moment is truly scary and what follows is a brief period where you lose all control and summersault through air before you reorient and free fall towards earth. The feeling is insanely thrilling.

Are there things in life or in business that you really want to do but don’t have all the answers before you try? It’s not about being reckless but about pushing boundaries. Do a thorough safety check, train well, practise and then – Take the Plunge!

 There are no prizes for reaching the campsite first

On a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru which follows the Inca Trail, I was heading to the next campsite trying to catch up with some of the trekkers ahead of me and while I sprinted, I slipped and fell. A wise fellow traveller who was nearby helped me up and said, “There are no prizes for reaching the campsite first”. As I looked at him, I saw a camera and the gentleman was taking his time; enjoying the stunning views; capturing the mountains andthe flora and fauna on his camera. He seemed to be in no rush at all. Sometimes we are so focused on the goal that we forget to enjoy the journey.

Some of my favourite moments during my adventures were when I stopped to admire the scenery, truly appreciated my surroundings, and took a mental picture of the moment. There have been times when I paused and was grateful for the experience; moments when I stopped trying to control my surroundings and became one with them. And that’s when you are in a state of Zen!

So, while you are hustling and pushing towards your goal; don’t forget to stop and enjoy the scenery.

My adventures in the mountains and the oceans have taught me about life and leadership and made me stronger both physically and mentally. Above all, it taught me that 'You are stronger than you think!’

So, don’t hold back, take the leap. After all, as they say, at the end of the day you will only regret the things you didn’t do; rather than the things you did.

The author is Head-Marketing, Edelweiss -Real Estate. Views expressed are personal.