Jump Starting Adventure at Breitenbush

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Sweet swimming hole at Breitenbush

I’d planned to hike the trails that morning. Shouldering my backpack filled with a ridiculous amount of stuff “just in case,” I stepped into the tiny office at Breitenbush to learn that all of the forest service trails adjacent were closed. Recent wildfires had taken out part of the infrastructure and woods at Breitenbush, while also decimating the forest in the surrounding mountains.

In a future newsletter, I’ll tell you more about the wonders of Breitenbush, but today, I want to share what I’d primed for that day. As a preface, know that I often prime to find a way to enjoy what I fear. Priming is the act of intentionally imagining what is going to happen and feeling the way you’d like to feel about it, sometimes even imagining all the joyful possibilities that could occur. The twin sister of priming, by default, is worry.

Taking an unfamiliar trail off grid that wanders around and crosses other trails over a span of hours can terrify me as a solo woman hiker. I’m not an old hand at this sort of adventure. So I’d packed — no joke — an entire outfit, with leatherman, sweater, coat, and so much more, in case I got lost and wound up out there overnight.

I’d primed for a safe and surprising adventure, feeling into the joy of discovery, growing competence and confidence. I enjoyed the sensation of knowing I was ok no matter what happened and slowly overcame the unreasonable fear in my mind. Whatever happened, I knew I’d clarified and savored the feelings of sweet success in my body-mind regardless. Explore more about priming on my YouTube channel, here for example. Priming is one of the practices in the Core Alignment with Joy series.

My smile faded as I left the Breitenbush office and ambled toward the creek to find a swimming hole instead. “Excuse me …” a voice behind me ventured tentatively. A woman stood by her Subaru, surveying me from beneath blonde curly tresses. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to give me a jump?” There appeared no other way for her to leave camp and get back on the road.

I agreed. My jumper cables, thank Love, came with instructions. With an absence of folks who wanted to lead, I spearheaded the effort to get her car started. My new friend coached her partner and grimaced periodically, bemoaning that electricity scared her. It usually does me, too, but this time, I engaged the task with clarity and calm.

As the couple drove off minutes later with a happy wave, I recalled that the point of priming isn’t to get exactly what you want, but rather to feel exactly what you want. First while priming, and second at every available opportunity in the 3 dimensional world when you’re done. Events rarely unfold the way we imagine beforehand, and that’s what keeps things fresh. After basking in that unexpected wave of adventure, competence, and confidence, I headed down to discover more swimming holes than I knew existed on the Breitenbush river. Turns out, I had it all!

Do you prime for what you fear to go better than you can possibly imagine? Do you feel the neural pathways towards joy and “needs met” strengthening as you engage this practice instead of worry? Do you want to know more about priming? Hit reply and let me know!