This winter I have spent quite a few days on the slopes, seven so far and probably more to come. At the beginning of the season, I was timid, scared of wiping out and only looking to go down only the easy slopes. As the season’s progressed, so too have my abilities. I can now manage more difficult blues, and make my way down black diamonds, but it didn’t come out of luck. Although I’ve had instructions, most of my improvement has been self-taught and a good portion of it comes from asking questions.
Falling and Being Out of Control
We all know the number one fear of skiing is wiping out and a) making a fool out of ourselves or b) having a serious injury. My biggest fear of falling is the fear that it happens because I lose control. If I’m not in control of myself jetting down a mountain who knows where I might end up. The first thing I taught myself was how to stay under control, and how to regain control when I lose it.
With not losing control my top priority, I started questioning every turn. Was that right? If it was, what did it feel like? When did I start my next turn? When I’d lose control, I’d ask what could I have done differently? Everything was a question of what am I doing right/wrong, and what can I do to make myself better.
Asking these questions have been valuable in my improvement on the slopes, but also is something I do regularly in day-to-day life.
Ask Yourself Questions Daily
Teaching yourself valuable lessons requires asking yourself questions at all times. No matter what’s going on with your life, questions will always bring improvement. Maybe it’s not improving an ability like skiing, but no matter what you want to improve, questions will help lead you to success.