I am not my mind

There’s a split in my head every time I line up for a new trick.

One voice rolls through excuses: Your too sore, you're gonna crash, my bike is making a weird noise.

The other voice cuts through with logic: The trick works in the foam pit, I've done easier versions of the trick.

Both voices sound like me, but they’re not the same.

That first one, the spiraling thoughts. That's just the mind doing what it’s built to do, keep me safe. But safety doesn't work well with progression. My rational brain looks at the facts, measures the risk, and lets me send it with a shred more confidence. It’s not about ignoring fear, it’s about seeing it as a reflex rather than a verdict.

Maybe that sounds like overthinking. Just send it, right? But I’ve learned that dealing with fear works better than pretending it isn’t there.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

That quote brings comfort to my natural urge to analyse. Awareness is half the battle. You might not have the solution yet, but you’re ready for it. It’s like reading a book on how to survive quicksand before you start sinking.

I build mental frameworks for that reason. They’re not for every problem. Just the ones most likely to show up. When my mind throws me a problem, I’ve got a framework ready to pull myself back.

Lately, that’s been tested with Plan 8. Halfway through, doubt creeps in. Can I pull it off? What will people think if I fail? Did I bite off more than I can chew?

Those thoughts are not me.

Once I recognise that, I can reframe them. I remind myself that I'm three tricks down already. Even if I fall short, I’ve still progressed faster than I ever would’ve without this challenge.

The thoughts don’t stop. They never do. But I’ve learned to see them arrive, deal with them, and let them move on. That process is fear regulation, and I love it.

And on the bike, that translates to clarity. When you can separate who you are from what your mind screams at you, you aren't nudged off course by fear. Your stand firm in your process, and move forward with intention.

See ya next week...