A few years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with deep infiltrating endometriosis. At the time, I knew little about this condition, but it quickly became clear that it would be the biggest challenge I had ever faced. Fear, uncertainty, and the nagging question, “Will I ever heal?” followed me every step of the way.
But even in the face of pain and doubt, I refused to give up.
The Beginning of the Journey
When the diagnosis came, my doctors and I were unsure how to proceed. It was clear that this journey would be long and challenging. Determined to take control, I started making changes in my life. I adopted a plant-based diet, committed to morning exercise, embraced meditation, and explored alternative therapies.
However, progress was not immediate. The first months were especially hard. I had hoped for rapid improvement, but instead, I faced disappointment. There were tears, moments of despair, and times when giving up seemed easier. Yet, deep inside, my desire for health burned stronger than ever.
Trusting the Body
Through this process, I learned something invaluable: the body has an incredible ability to heal itself when given time, support, and love. My journey wasn’t about finding a quick fix but rather about taking small, consistent steps forward. Each book I read, every new technique I tried, and every moment of reflection brought me closer to my goal.
Bioresonance treatments gave me a burst of energy, Anthony William’s books filled me with hope and spiritual growth taught me to accept, understand, and compassionately work on myself. Illness is not the enemy – it’s an opportunity to look inward and grow.
The Turning Point
After three years of discipline and perseverance, the time came for surgery. Initially, I was terrified, but with the knowledge I had gained and the inner strength I had cultivated, I embraced it as part of my healing. The surgery was successful, my recovery was swift, and I emerged stronger than ever before.
Awakening and Sharing
Today, I feel unstoppable. My confidence and resilience have grown immensely, and climbing – a sport I’ve always loved – has become both a passion and a way to connect with others. From these experiences, I created Climb to Heal, a project that combines my love of climbing with my desire to help others overcome their challenges.
The Ongoing Journey
Climbing has transformed from a passion to a form of therapy. It’s not just about the physical challenge anymore; it’s about the mental clarity and emotional release I find with each ascent. The wall becomes a metaphor for all of life’s obstacles. When I face a tough route, I’m reminded of the times I thought I couldn’t keep going, of the days when the pain seemed endless. And yet, I made it through.
Each climb, each hold, is a reminder that healing isn’t linear. There are moments when the fear resurfaces when doubts creep in, but with every new summit, I gain confidence and a deeper understanding of my strength. What started as a personal battle has now turned into a way to inspire others. With Climb to Heal, I have the privilege of guiding others on their journeys, showing them that healing is possible, and that strength comes from within.
The Power of Thought
As I continued my journey, one important realization stood out: the way we think about ourselves is crucial. It’s not just about the words we say, but the thoughts we hold in our minds. If someone believes they can’t climb because they feel too heavy or too weak, that thought directly influences how their body responds. The same applies to health. If we believe that healing is impossible, our mind and body work together to send a message to the brain, which then communicates with the organs responsible for the healing process.
Our thoughts are more powerful than we often realize. Each thought generates an action – a positive thought activates the body, encouraging us to move forward, while a negative thought causes the body to shut down and avoid facing stress, such as in climbing. This realization is key, both in climbing and in life: our thoughts matter. They can transform our actions, influence our health, and guide us toward healing.
While climbing itself is not inherently stressful, it can certainly bring out feelings of stress, especially when faced with tough routes or challenging moments. The physical demands, the mental focus, and the fear of failure can all create stress. However, it’s important to realize that this kind of stress is not always a negative force. It can be motivating – a reminder that we are pushing our boundaries, testing our limits, and growing.
The key is in how we respond to that stress. If we approach it with fear and self-doubt, the stress can feel overwhelming. But if we embrace it with confidence and belief in our own abilities, that same stress can transform into energy, focus, and resilience. This is where the connection between mind and body comes into play. How we think about the challenge ahead influences how our body reacts. Instead of resisting stress, we can learn to use it as a tool for growth, not just on the wall, but in all aspects of life.
In the Himalayas, monks are not allowed to indulge in negative or impure thoughts. When they experience such thoughts, they face a harsh discipline – they must walk for miles to find a cold waterfall, stand beneath it, and endure the cold until they can no longer bear it. This practice is a form of mental training, helping them rid themselves of negativity and return to clarity and purity of mind. It’s a rigorous form of discipline, one that shows just how powerful our thoughts truly are. We, too, could benefit from such training.
A book that had a profound impact on me is How the Mind Heals the Body by David R.Hamilton. It gave me a clear picture of what happens in our cells on a quantum level when we experience different thoughts. It’s incredible how the mind-body connection is explained, and I can testify that when you start practicing this understanding, it truly works. The mind is a powerful tool, and learning to control it is essential for healing – both physically and mentally.
Final Thoughts
All of this has come together in the creation of my coaching program, Climb to Heal, and the start of a career, if I may call it that. Through this approach, I aim to inspire people in our climbing coaching sessions, where I teach not only the physical aspects of climbing but also how to embrace their climbing and life challenges as opportunities for growth. My goal is to help people use stress, fear, and difficult situations as teachers who guide them toward transformation – especially by shifting their thinking to empower them and pave their way to success.
This approach has helped many who are now great champions, having overcome seemingly incurable diseases, run marathons, and achieved remarkable feats. Never give up, persist, and you will reach your goal. That’s why I’ve started sharing this journey with you, and I continue to teach others, hoping to offer guidance on how to succeed and improve not only in climbing but in life overall. This year, I plan to hold five retreats, where we will explore these concepts in-depth. The full program is outlined on my website, where you can find all the details, including my personal story of overcoming illness.
I share these thoughts with you to encourage you – every one of us must put in the effort to achieve our goals. This is true in climbing, too: the effort you put in regularly will be rewarded. I wish you all a beautiful journey ahead.
Life never gives up on us. Sometimes, we are the ones who let go. But if we allow ourselves to believe, trust, and work on ourselves, we can overcome even the greatest obstacles. My story is proof that nothing is impossible.
If you ever find yourself standing before a wall that feels insurmountable, remember: that every climb begins with a single step. And when you look back, you’ll see just how strong you truly are.
With warmth,
Anja
