As a user and consumer of social media, I like to monitor how well I am doing in connecting with a larger audience. I use Klout to help me with social media analytics. In the process of using Klout, I received one of their perks. The perk was a 12-month subscription to The Red Bulletin, a magazine published by Red Bull Media House GmbH. I love getting this magazine every month because it highlights a wide range of sports and activities from ordinary to extreme.
In the March 2014 issue, there is an article written on the Red Bull Kirimbawa. I have never heard of this event before. What I found was nothing ordinary. The Kirimbawa is a multi-sport team relay race in the heart of the Amazon. It consists of 31 miles of running through the dense forest and across rivers, 53 miles of mountain biking, and 31 miles of kayaking. All of this is done in 96-degree temperature with 80 percent humidity. The weather varies, but the heat and humidity are always intense. Kirimbawas is the name given to the great warriors of the Inhaa-Be Indian tribe. When you finish this race, you can consider yourself a warrior.
After reading the article, I thought what would possess people to do the extreme and attempt to finish such a race as the Red Bull Kirimbawa.
Here are 3 things I learned about testing the limits of our ability:
1. It tests the limits of our human ability and pushes the boundaries of the impossible.
For many of us, there is something innate that drives us to be more, do more, expect more, and accomplish more. We don’t accept current boundaries and limitations. We always want to push those boundaries. When you can push the boundaries of limitation and succeed with new limits, there is joy and satisfaction in what you have accomplished.
2. Not wanting to live a life of regret and “what ifs”, they seek to take risk in the adventure.
Adventure is tempting. Adventure has the ability to speak into the boringness of mediocrity and promise something more than current experience, something better. J.K. Rowling writes, “Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” Adventure offers something more, something better, and answers the question, “what if?”
3. To expand the capacity and performance of the mind and body working in unison.
Our bodies are capable of so much more than our minds will often allow. The greatest athletes and those who accomplish extreme feats are those who understand how to overcome this mental-physical imbalance. I can’t become I can. No becomes yes. Impossible becomes possible. They don’t allow their mind to limit their physical ability and learn to allow the mind and the body to work together bringing balance. When the mind and body are balanced working together, performance increases and previous limitations and boundaries are pushed to new levels.
[shareable cite=”@terrylamasters”]Don’t allow your mind to limit and set false boundaries to what you can accomplish.[/shareable]The next time you are climbing a snow-capped mountain, surfing off the coast of Alaska, or just running that extra mile, remember that you can do it and there is more in you than what you might think. Work hard and don’t allow your mind to limit and set false boundaries to what you can accomplish.
