I took a deep breath in, exhaled, and climbed higher, trusting my hands and feet on the pebble-sized knobs and deceptively present friction of Donner Summit’s granite slabs.

I’ve spent my last two weekends climbing vertical faces and cliffs in the Tahoe region, casually flirting with gravity. So, it may come as a surprise to learn that I’m actually afraid of heights.

“Why do it?” you ask.

For some reason, taking the most inefficient, technical, skin-tearing, and fear-inducing way to gain a good view actually calms me and quiets my mind.

It’s as if my fear of heights jars my mind out of itself to focus immediately on what’s in front of me. I remind myself to breathe when I’m tempted to panic, and I take it one movement at a time, focusing on my next hand or foot placement.

I become grounded, while simultaneously rising.

My brilliant colleague and fellow reporter for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Petra Molina, broke down what I am trying to describe in her article titled “Pushing Limits: The Psychology Behind Extreme Sports,” in this summer’s Tahoe Magazine.

I was captivated by the story of a whitewater kayaker and paraglider, as well as a sports psychologist’s analysis, which helped me understand what goes through my mind while white-knuckling a rock.

Though, as far as risk goes in rock climbing, it’s usually pretty safe. The trick is getting your mind to believe that.

Before you get this inflated impression of my skills, I am by no means good at rock climbing (or any of the outdoor hobbies I do), and I often repeat my good friend Alyssa’s mantra when it comes to doing outdoor activities—”I am a professional participator!”

But what I love about climbing is the ability to gain the mental and physical benefits at every level.

Although I appreciate the physical nature and the process of getting stronger, my favorite aspect of climbing is the psychological game.

Whether you’re mentally negotiating a scary or tricky move, reaching the top of a route you initially doubted you could complete, or sending a route you fell on last time, there are many ways climbing offers a mental satisfaction that is hard to describe.

The best I can do is call it euphoric empowerment, this sense of giddiness and excitement after overcoming an obstacle that once seemed ominous.

And what I appreciate so much about climbing is how this effect carries over into the challenges I face in life.

There have been times when life has left me disappointed, feeling heavy and low.

Working a problem on a wall or breathing through the scary shakes leaves me feeling lighter and shrinks the burdens of life. Perhaps that’s because it puts things in perspective?

The sport also places you among some of the most supportive and positive people (my best friend and life-partner, Clayton, being my biggest fan) who have your back on the wall, catch you when you fall, offer a “yip” when you pull off a move, and greet you with ecstatic smiles and celebration when you’re back on the ground again.

It’s for all these reasons that I keep showing up multiple times a week, even if I’m scared, to get my fix.