My Experience at the Tough Mudder (Part I)
“I can’t believe I signed up for this!”
“I have never liked mud!”
“I don’t even garden because I don’t like the feeling of dirt on my hands!”
“I am feeling anxious. Will I be able to do this?”
“I’m supposed to go through a 10-mile course, with 20 military-style obstacles, and they ALL involve MUD! This is CRAZY!”
These were the thoughts in my head a week before the Tough Mudder last month.
I needed help! So I did what I do when I need assistance and reassurance…I asked my Spiritual Support Team (my angels, guides, and my Higher Self) for their help. Plus, they were the ones who encouraged me to sign up for this CRAZY event in the first place!
In this post, I describe how my Spiritual Support Team helped me overcome my fears. I am so grateful to my Team for their “down-to-earth” (pun intended), practical advice!
(Note added 5 years later, in October 2020: Little did I know that this would be the beginning of my journey of empowerment through self-love which I wrote about in my book, The Gift of Divorce. This event was a way for my Spiritual Support Team to start getting me ready for what was to come in the months ahead.)
This is what I heard my Spiritual Support Team tell me when I first asked for their help,
This event can be an opportunity for you to overcome fears and limiting perspectives in your own life. Look at what mud represents to you. Look at what each obstacle represents in your life. What struggle, challenge or fear does it represent? Then, as you are going through each obstacle, see yourself tackling and conquering your fears.”
I thought that was a great idea! I’m always up for growing and expanding, so I could use this event as an opportunity to grow in my spiritual understanding and face my deepest fears! But, I didn’t know what I was about to find…
I got my notebook and pen, along with my computer. I was ready to go deep!
I made a list of each of the obstacles on the course map. I went through each one, watching a YouTube video to get a better idea of what each one entailed.
There were 20 obstacles in total. Many of them I felt confident that I could do, but several really triggered me.
Following are the incredibly helpful insights I received from my Spiritual Support Team (SST) on each of the obstacles that triggered me.
Mud…Yuck!
I decided to start by finding out why I don’t like mud in general and avoid it at any cost. I asked my inner guidance, “What does mud represent to me?”
SST (Spiritual Support Team):
Mud represents difficulties and challenges, struggle, feeling dirty and uncomfortable. It’s the opposite of ease, clean and organized.“
Dumari: “I don’t like mud. Yuck!”
SST:
Mud (and all it represents) is just mud. You are the one giving it a negative meaning. This meaning you give it creates your resistance towards it.
“If you see mud as neutral, without judgment, your whole perspective towards mud AND EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS for you, will shift.
“You could give it a different meaning and even laugh at the mud!
“Recognize that every challenge (a.k.a. “muddy obstacle”) you experience in your life brings a GIFT to you. Every single one! Mud can be your friend!”
Kissing the Mud
That’s me, covered in mud…in the “Kiss of Mud” obstacle.
Dumari: “To me, the Kiss of Mud obstacle represents getting deep in the mud and being in the middle of challenges and struggle. It feels icky, sticky, yucky, uncomfortable, and maybe even, painful.”
SST:
Here are some tips to help you go through this obstacle:
Be totally neutral about mud.
Stay focused on your destination.
Keep your head up! It will help you see the path ahead more clearly.
Shift your perspective about being immersed in mud. Think, “Mud can be fun!” Remember that mud (“challenges”) can help you grow and gain wisdom.
Choose to enjoy the ride. Enjoy the ups and downs, even if you get really, really dirty and uncomfortable!
What do you want mud to mean for you? What would be empowering for you? What would make you smile when rolling in mud?
As you go through the Kiss of Mud obstacle, repeat this mantra, “Mud has no meaning. Mud just is. Mud is my friend. Mud is fun!”
AT THE EVENT: It worked! Look at my smile! Getting all muddy wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be!
I Am NOT Going Through Unnecessary Trauma!
The Arctic Enema obstacle entails going down a steep slide ending up submerged in ICE-cold, muddy water.
I didn’t even ask my SST for their input on this one!
Dumari: “No, thank you! I don’t even go into pools because I don’t like the feeling of going into cold water. Plus, I heard that the water in this obstacle can be so cold, that your muscles go into shock. They don’t move. Even when your mind says, “move,” your body can have a hard time moving. I am not doing this one!
“I already know what the lesson from this one is…that I don’t have to go through unnecessary trauma! I am choosing not to!”
AT THE EVENT: Somehow I found myself in line with others going on this obstacle. “How did I get here? I am not supposed to be here!” But with my husband & friends looking forward to it, laughing and excited about it, I suddenly felt a surge of confidence that surpassed my nervousness. “I’ll do it!”
Before I knew it, there I was…going fast down the steep slide into the freezing, ice-cold water…I was completely submerged…
“Holy sh..t! This water is freaking cold! I am underwater! I can’t open my eyes in this mucky water. How do I stand up?” I then felt someone lift me up so that I could stand. Matt, my hubby, came to my rescue! I was SO grateful!
I survived the Arctic Enema!
Later I received the following message from my SST:
It is wise to choose to not go through unnecessary trauma. And still sometimes, you will find yourself in the middle of it. Know that even in the direst of experiences, you are never alone. You are always supported, by seen and unseen friends!”
Am I Strong Enough? Am I too Heavy to Be Carried?
In the Warrior Carry obstacle, you are supposed to carry your partner for 50 yards, then switch.
Dumari: “I think this one will be fun. But, am I strong enough to carry Matt? Will he get tired of carrying me? Will I be too heavy for him?”
SST:
Sometimes, you are meant to carry others in life, just for a moment to help them out…and other times, they are meant to carry you. You are each other’s support. Believe in yourself. Know that you ARE strong enough, wise enough, resourceful enough, to help others. At the same time, be gracious in accepting others’ help. You don’t have to carry the load all the time. Allow yourself to be carried. Accept & welcome heaven’s help, in all ways.”
AT THE EVENT: This was the most fun event for me! I felt so strong carrying my husband for 50 yards. He was super funny, pretending he was a knight and I was his horse. Hmmm…good thing we got to switch! I laughed so hard. And it was not as difficult as I thought it would be.
My Greatest Fear…Feeling Alone & Disconnected
Jumping from a really high platform (20 feet?) into dirty waters.
Dumari: “To me this represents my fear of being disconnected and alone, especially while going through something difficult.”
When I asked my SST for insights, I saw an image of angel wings opening up behind my back.
SST:
Who You Really Are is Spirit in human form! And your Spirit can fly! See your angel wings opening up behind your back.
Dumari: I hear the song, “You are the wind beneath my wings…” in my head.
SST:
God is the wind beneath your wings. You are always connected to Source (God). You are divinely supported by your SST, always. There’s no moment when you are alone; No moment when you are disconnected. Remember this and you’ll experience this Truth.”
AT THE EVENT: I wasn’t sure I would do this one, but once there, I decided to go for it! Even while feeling the fear, I still launched myself into the air, envisioning my angel wings opening up and being supported by Source & my SST. Even though it was scary, it was also amazing! I DID IT!
My Fear of Pain
The last obstacle was Electroshock Therapy, where there are live hanging wires that will shock you with electricity. Not all of them will shock you, but some will.
Dumari: “I am not sure about this one. Will it hurt? I don’t like pain. I’ll decide if I do it when I am there.”
AT THE EVENT: “I am going for it! OK…now I am almost at the end of the path without being shocked! I think I may be able to miss being shocked. This could be really easy…O-O-U-U-U-C-H!!!! I got SHOCKED! THAT FREAKING HURT!!!!!”
Being shocked was debilitating. My knees gave in. I almost fell down on the muddy track, but I was able to regain my balance and got to the end.
Phew! I made it! I DID IT! I. DID. IT.
I was smiling so BIG! All I could feel was a huge sense of accomplishment and pride!
The Tough Mudder, What a Gift!
Doing the Tough Mudder was an amazing experience.
Thanks to this event, to my Spiritual Support Team’s wise insights and to my willingness to grow, I have overcome some of my greatest fears! I also learned much about myself and about life. What a beautiful gift!
What I learned from the Tough Mudder:
- Mud (and everything it represents to me) has No Meaning.
- I give Mud its meaning.
- Mud Is My Friend.
- I Am Connected, Supported & Loved.
- How I see Mud (and Everything in Life) Is All My Choice.
My OLD meaning for M.U.D. –> Most. Uncomfortable. Doing.
My NEW meaning for M.U.D. –> Most. Uplifting. Discovery.
I hope my experience inspired you to overcome your own fears and to look for the gift within every obstacle. What gifts have you received from a challenge in your life? What did you learn? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear anything you’d like to share…about this post or about your life!
Are you going through any challenges that you’d like to gain insights about? Would you like to know what your Spiritual Support Team has to say about your challenge? Maybe even realize what gift your challenge is bringing to you? Schedule a “Love Your Life” Breakthrough Session with me. I’d love to help you overcome your own challenges with more ease!
Loved it! You are an inspiring ‘Teacher’. An earthly ‘Angel’. You walk your talk! Keep it up and follow your Intuition to Be of help to others.
I am glad you loved my story! I hope it inspired you & others to connect with your Spiritual Support Teams & intuition no matter what is going on in your life. Your Team can help you go through challenges with more ease & grace. It can even help you open your heart to the blessings these challenges bring.
Dumari, I have known you for 20 years(!) and have always stood in awe at how you can be so in touch with your angels and intuition, and at the same time, be such a “down to earth” kind of person. Maybe when people hear about angels, some might think it’s a bunch of hokus-pokus, not really related to everyday life, and not practical in any way. But you show me time and time again that being in touch with yourself and your angels helps you to tackle and embrace just about any real-life situation that comes your way! The mud run is a perfect example of this: I mean, how much more down to earth can you get than mud?! And it was the angels who helped you gather the courage to do it! Bravo to you, well done! You are living proof that angels can connect the divine to the real world!
Hi Melissa! I really don’t know how I would go through life without the profound wisdom & loving support of my Spiritual Support Team. I’ve always found their insights very practical. They always uplift me and lighten me up! Their higher perspective about life and what I am going through in my life is always incredibly helpful. I find that they always do the same for my clients, too! It is such a blessing! ((HUGS))