How to fall uphill

Can you identify where you are in the process of turning dreams into reality?

A free worksheet

This graphic has been simmering in my brain for years. I think it really captures the essence of how doubt and fear are essential to any adventure. Imagine your dream is a mountain. We all start our grand adventure on the bottom. It is the place with all the possibilities. As you climb, sometimes you’ll trip and fall. But you’ll notice that when you get back up, you’ve accidentally traveled farther up the mountain, and you’ve learned from your mistakes. We call these happy accidents falling uphill.

This may be my favorite worksheet of all time. If you don’t know, I rode my bicycle around the world. This infographic describes all the different stages I went through. The first part of being a good adventurer is knowing where you are, and this worksheet helps you figure that out. It also gives a hint about what to do if you are stuck. Believe me, I wish I knew this stuff when I first started on my adventure.

Printout instructions: Below, you can download the free, PDF worksheet. It’s good for kids and adults. Each worksheet includes brief instructions, but here, I explain the concepts in depth. (If you are a facilitator, you can summarize or paraphrase these ideas for your group.)

Bonus poster: I’ve also included both a black and white and color version without the instructions which will make great inspirational posters for your office or classroom.

Update: This graphic was actually adapted and used in our new book “Dream it!” to teach kids how to turn dreams into reality. If you like the idea of falling uphill, you love our book. It will teach the first and most important step in any adventure: how to find your passion.

Download below.