Mindfulness in Action: How Honoring Our Pace Leads Us Towards Empowerment
B2Y Camp Team Cheer at the Salem Ropes Challenge Course. We celebrated together anytime we transitioned from an activity, we’d put our hands in a circle and said our empowerment chant.
As a new volunteer with Back 2 Youth, I had the recent privilege of watching its mindfulness-based curriculum come alive in real life. On my very first day of camp, we visited the Salem Ropes Course — a place filled with challenges of varying heights, each designed to test both physical and mental limits.
Two courses, in particular, stand out in my memory.
The first was a dueling course suspended 30–35 feet in the air. Participants had to climb a tree while safely harnessed, walk across a rope to the center, and then “joust” their partner. One camper, who had a fear of heights, climbed about halfway up before stopping. He calmly set his boundary, explaining that he didn’t want to go any higher, and made his way back down. His decision was respected without pressure, and after lunch, we moved on to the next activity.
That next challenge was nearly twice as high. It was a giant swing where each participant was strapped in and launched into the air, supported by the collective effort of campers and counselors. As we neared the end of the line, the same camper who had earlier stopped halfway announced that he wanted to try this one — determined to face his fear.
We gave him the time he needed, honoring his pace and letting him set limits on how fast and how high he wanted to go. Bit by bit, his confidence grew, and in the end, he went all the way up.
It was an honor to witness someone push through their own barrier in just a few hours. Given the space, respect, and support to grow, he embraced the challenge head-on. Watching that transformation made me reflect on my own journey. Fear often shows up in my life in subtler ways —hesitation to step into leadership, worry about not being “enough,” or the weight of imposter syndrome. Seeing that young man face something that had clearly haunted him for years reminded me that I, too, have the capacity to face the things that hold me back. Courage doesn’t always mean leaping without fear — it can look like setting boundaries, pausing when needed, and then returning to the challenge with a renewed spirit.
That afternoon reminded me that growth is rarely linear. Sometimes we stop halfway, and that’s okay. But with the right support and patience, we can return stronger, braver, and more willing to try again.
That’s the power of Back 2 Youth’s mindfulness curriculum in action — helping young people recognize their boundaries, build their courage, and discover what they’re truly capable of. And in the process, reminding volunteers, like myself, that the same strength lives within us too.
DEEP DIVE:
JOURNAL QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE INTROSPECTION + EMPOWERMENT:
Can you recall a time when your fears about the future, or a potential outcome of a situation, held you back from something you really wanted to participate in or accomplish? If you could re-create that opportunity again, would you take the same path you did?
Think of your own stories of growth beyond fear. Was it linear or non-linear, ‘neat or messy’? How so?
Have you felt supported or seen with kindness by others around you when you’ve shared your fears openly around past hurts or heartbreaks? If you found yourself in that situation again - what would you say to someone who may have unfairly judged you at that time? How can you reclaim your voice in that moment - for yourself here and now, while forgiving them for perhaps treating you unfairly?
How could you empower yourself beyond your fears, and dismiss the judgements of others - seeing their judgements only as a reflection of their own perceived limitations - not as reflection of you, or your own potential?
Think of a person whose growth towards overcoming their fears has been a messy or ongoing process. How do you feel about their process? Do they inspire you? How do they talk about their own past experiences with fear?
Article written + submitted to Back2Youth by Outdoor Leader, Sadie Hanalei Mageo.
Thank you Sadie! It’s an honor to share your insight, enthusiasm + heart with our growing commUNITY. - The B2Y Team
Sadie Hanalei Mageo
OUTDOOR LEADER + GUEST JOURNAL CONTRIBUTOR
Sadie grew up between Oregon and Samoa, where her love for both nature and culture was shaped by family, athletics, and adventure.
As a professional model and the reigning Miss Eugene Volunteer 2025–2026, she brings creativity, confidence, and leadership into every space she serves. Currently a student at New Hope Christian College studying Pastoral Studies, Sadie is passionate about weaving faith, mentorship, and the outdoors into opportunities that inspire and uplift local youth.
Sadie believes that nature is one of the best classrooms, for developing courage, teamwork, and self-discovery. She is honored to support and guide B2Y campers to connect with the land, embrace new challenges, and grow in their potential and resilience.