I’m a cave diver and I like to tell people that I swim through the veins of Mother Earth, exploring the lifeblood of our planet. Most people look into the darkness of a cave and see only terrifying blackness, but for me, the darkness beckons, drawing me into an unexplored world of possibilities. Every fin stroke that takes me further into the unknown, offering an opportunity for discovery and growth.
Today, we live in a world where fear governs the actions of the populace. People are terrified of world politics, failure, and change in their daily lives. I believe the secret to survival and growth is finding a way to swim into the unknown instead of sinking into oblivion. If we allow fear to govern our existence, then there is only one outcome, and that is heading straight down. But I am not suggesting that you cast away fear and run headlong into danger. Instead, it is more important to bring fear into your life.
People often suggest that I might not want to dive with them because they are afraid. My response, “You are precisely the type of person that I wish to dive with.” Being fearful means that you care about the outcome of your endeavors. Fear helps you make good choices about risk versus reward. Fear drives you to move closer to the edge and take on things that inspire new horizons. When we work to liberate ourselves from the contraction that is fear, then personal limitations are expanded, and our perception widens. We can increase our overall potential.
Fear resides in humanity as a defense mechanism. Our primal being is programmed in a series of responses intended to keep us alive. That preconditioning may keep us safe from harm, but is not necessarily designed to increase our potential. When we find ourselves in danger, our bodies are set to respond with fight or flight and yet I would offer another option. In the face of danger, it can be overwhelming to envision success or survival. It is all too easy to lash out or run screaming for the closest source of comfort. But in my job, either of those options can end in death. When I am trapped in a claustrophobic cave underwater in the darkness of complete silt out, I must summon the calmness necessary to make the next best step towards survival. If a rock has me pinned, I must use reason and logic to figure out how to free myself. I have to find the wiggle room. If the safety guideline breaks, I must methodically deploy my cave divers’ reel and carefully patch the broken safety line. I must do all of these things in the absence of panic. Every breath I take must be measured and calm. I must keep my heart rate low and focus on the next best step toward survival. Emotions won’t serve me in these life-threatening situations. They will only distract me from success and use up precious air supplies that I need to breathe. Pragmatism and confidence must rule the moment so that I can solve my dilemma and get back out of the cave.
It can be hard to visualize success when you are in the middle of an emergency. Whether you are sales person trying to figure out how to reach a quarterly target or if you are a researcher looking for a cure for a disease, it can be overwhelming to find a way to envision solutions to big problems. It can be hard to know what success might look like or when it will come. But I challenge you to consider the simple fact that we are all capable of knowing what the next best decision in our lives or at the moment should be. In the goodness of our hearts, we know what we should do next. And if we keep making positive steps toward our most significant goals, then we will achieve great things. When fear gets in the way, ask yourself, “if I take this risk, and take responsibility for that choice, what rewards await? What is the worst thing that could happen?” By taking responsibility for risk, we are empowered to choose our destiny. By moving methodically toward a solution, we can overcome terrible situations.
People look at my career and suggest that documenting the world of underwater caves might be the most dangerous pastime on earth. Indeed, I have lost my share of colleagues who have made bad choices in the blackness of cave systems. Their names have been added to a long list of divers who ran out of air, who got lost in the labyrinth or pressed too far into new exploration before turning back. With training, preparation and dedication to proper safety procedures, I have managed to maintain a career of nearly 30 years of exploration and science. It would be arrogant for me to say that I will never make a mistake or poor choice that could ultimately cost me my life, but I believe that following a final rule for survivors can help. Be willing to assume the risk. Be prepared to push the razor’s edge of possibility. Be bold and confident in whatever you take on in life. Embrace fear of the unknown and bring it into your decision making at every step. But finally, when you are within an arm’s reach of complete success, within an arm’s reach of grasping the treasure that you seek, you must still listen to your intuition. When the hair stands on the back of your neck alerting you to danger ahead, you must be willing to let go of whatever you conceive of as success. As you reach for the tempting summit of the mountain or the new exploration in a cave, remember you also have to get home safely. Knowing when to turn back is as important as embracing fear to climb or swim in the first place. Patient, diligent work is key to success. You might not achieve your goal the first time around. You might have to swim a different route. But allow fear to guide your decisions and be willing to turn back. Swim boldly into new endeavors and don’t let fear sink your efforts. Take a deep breathe and make the next best choice.
Taking you to places where no man has ever gone before, and blending memoir, adventure, and science, Into the Planet is a riveting account of one of the most dangerous yet exhilarating pursuits in the world. With gripping storytelling, and radiating with intimacy, my book will transport you deep into the most exquisite, untouched corners of the earth, where fear must be reconciled and the innermost parts of the human condition are revealed. Order it now at www.IntoThePlanet.com. Available in bookstores everywhere on August 27, 2019.
