Earlier this year, I went on an incredible mountain hike near Cape Town with a guide. He led me to a cave, but to get there, we had to crawl through a very narrow passage.

Every part of me was saying, “Don’t do it! You’re scared of tight spaces, you don’t know where you’ll end up, and you’re not even sure if you’ll be able to get back out.”

A textbook case of claustrophobia. A real stress response: don’t go, get out of here! A mix of thoughts reminding me of my fears, with my body reinforcing it, signaling that this was an unsafe situation.

I respected my intuition and my body, but I chose to go anyway. I was able to see my fears for what they were: irrational thoughts in this situation. I could sufficiently assess the potential risks.

Plus, I had an escape plan in mind: if I didn’t feel right on the other side, I’d listen to my body and turn back.

I went for it. I felt excited. My heart was racing, my knees were shaky. I was completely focused and 100 percent in the moment.

The other side of the passage offered an incredible view of the valley and the ocean. It felt like I’d discovered a hidden place, and I felt such happiness. But first, I had to catch my breath and recover physically and mentally.

Then, I made a conscious decision to enjoy this special spot I had reached, with the guidance of my guide.

With pride and gratitude, I soaked in everything the surroundings so beautifully and generously offered. And it was a lot—overwhelming, even.

The mental and physical stress response had almost kept me from experiencing this.

Thankfully, I was able to see through it, turn it around, and use it. I transformed the fear I felt into courage and trust.

By taking that step (literally), I proved to myself that I can recognize, interpret, and weigh the signals from my mind and body, and then take a courageous step forward. It boosted my confidence and strengthened my belief that I’m capable of more than my mind sometimes wants me to believe.

The link to work?

Many of us see stress as an obstacle, something that limits us and holds us back. But what if you embraced stress as a source of growth?

Stress presents challenges that make you stronger, sharper, and more creative—if you’re willing to look at it honestly and differently.

What if you saw stress as a catalyst, pushing you out of your comfort zone and helping you discover new paths?

A powerful mindset shift can turn stress into an ally instead of an adversary.

How would your leadership and impact change if you saw stress as a driver of growth instead of a brake?

P.S. The photo was taken on the way back 😉