PLAYFUL, YES! DREADFUL, NO!

Each time I see a 7a at the climbing gym, my mind goes nuts. “No way I’m on-sighting this on lead.” “Way above my level.” “I don’t think I can do it.” I still haven’t managed to silence those voices. And since my shoulder injury, they’ve gotten louder.

Over the last few years I worked through 6a, 6b, 6c. How? By boldly getting on those routes. First with the rope already installed. Then leading. Then on-sighting. Again and again and again. Falling. Again and again and again. Until one day I topped a route. Then another. Until I became comfortable at that level and started eyeing the next one up.

This doesn’t mean I top everything. It means I’m not afraid to get on it.

Here’s what I have learned:

My mind lies to me. And it will keep lying to me.
There is no point trying to switch it off.
The only thing that works is to let my body play. Keep moving, fall, get back up, welcome the scratches, and go back on the wall. Then, and only then, I let my mind process the whole experience.

My current ceiling is a 7a lead on-sight. And honestly I’m not ready to break it yet. Breaking it now would mean getting covered in glass or whatever texture the ceiling is made of. And I do not want that. I am reaching a point where I feel I could easily injure myself there. And it scares me deeply. I can even feel it in my belly as I write these lines. We all have our demons and limitations, right?

My intent is to convert the bubbling stress into a comfy inflatable cushion that will lift me up to a point where I can safely stand on the ceiling, confident that this is now a rock-solid floor. Trial after trial, pitch after pitch, move after move.

Until the ceiling becomes the floor.

A few months ago I committed to lead-only for 6c+ and below. I’m proud to say I mostly honour it. And honest enough to admit I’ve failed more than once and kept the already installed rope. But I keep practicing and moving forward, despite the fear and discomfort. Not just in climbing.

That’s where I am. In a consciously chosen zone with enough fun, challenge and growth to keep me hungry, without tipping into overwhelm. And if it stops bringing me joy one day, I’ll create a new one !

Your turn. What is one “zone” you have created ? Are you happy in it ? And if not, what needs to change?

Be brave.

Delphine

#TheCourageofBeing

Photo – DP – Jan 2026 – En route vers la Pointe de Chalune – Haute-Savoie. Challenging enough. Safe enough. Another zone I love.