The first man to travel solo across Antarctica has revealed the mantras he repeated to himself to make his trek possible.
Throughout November and December 2018, Colin O’Brady crossed Antarctica on a pair of skis - while carrying a 375-pound sled.
According to O’Brady, the feat, which required strength - both mental and physical - and dedication, was successful because of two affirmations he told himself,
When O’Brady woke up each day, often to -15-degree temperatures, he told himself: “You’re strong, you’re capable.”
The daily self-reminder was enough to motivate him to continue on the 932-mile solo journey, he revealed to Business Insider, until he encountered other hardships. At that point he employed the use of his second mantra: “This too shall change. This too shall pass.”
In addition to the mantras, the 33-year-old was able to complete the 54-day trek on December 26 by tapping into his “deep inner peace and strength.”
On Instagram, where he documented his progress across the frozen tundra, he described the fear that he could have felt during the life-or-death attempt, and the strength that he was able to find in himself.
“We all have reservoirs of untapped potential and our bodies and spirits are capable of so much more than lies on the surface,” he wrote five days before he accomplished his goal. “Believe that the next time you need more strength than you think you have, it’s inside of you.”
Repeating mantras to oneself such as those used in transcendental meditation have been shown to be useful in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
