Your Life, Your Beta

In climbing, "beta" refers to the specific way someone physically climbs a route. It’s the sequence of moves—the foot placements, the handholds, the momentum, the timing—that helps you get from the bottom to the top.

But, there isn’t just one beta for any given route - there’s multiple.
Then there’s your beta.

Who really cares what the “intended” beta is? Like solving a puzzle - you have to find your beta that gets you to the top.

Before you can find your beta—on the wall or in life—you have to know yourself. In climbing, that means understanding your strengths: maybe you’ve got powerful legs, good hip mobility for high steps, or maybe you’re more precise with balance and footwork than raw muscle. You learn this through experience—through the routes you’ve sent and the ones that threw you off the wall.

Life is no different. Your past—both the successes and the falls—teaches you who you are, what you can handle, and how you adapt under pressure. The more you know yourself, the more you can shape your approach, using your unique strengths and lessons learned to chart a path that fits you. Because your beta isn’t just a set of moves—it’s the product of who you are and everything that’s brought you here.

Sometimes someone else will breeze up a climb with a huge reach or a wild dyno that feels totally impossible for you. Or someone shorter might use a tiny foothold you didn’t even notice. You can ask around, get tips, watch others, even be inspired by others - that helps! BUT, ultimately, you’ve got to figure out what works for you.

Finding your beta can be the hardest part—harder than the physical effort. And honestly, life works the same way.

There are times when you have no idea what to do next. You’re staring at your “route”—a job change, a relationship decision, a big move, a moment of uncertainty—and thinking, I should know what to do, right? But you don’t. And that’s okay.

You might try what worked for someone else. Maybe it fits. Maybe it doesn’t.

We’re all built differently—not just in height and reach, but in temperament, calling, timing, and talent. Someone else’s life beta might be bold and fast; yours might be careful and creative. Or the other way around.

That doesn’t make your process wrong. It makes it yours.

So if you’re in that stuck spot—unsure, waiting, hesitating—don’t let the fear of failure keep you from trying something new. Move anyway. Test the hold. Make an adjustment. Fall and try again.

The best climbers aren’t the ones who never fall. They’re the ones who keep showing up, experimenting, and learning. They trust the process of finding their beta.

You don’t have to have it - the route or life - all figured out.

You just have to keep moving, keep trying, keep learning, one move at a time, til you find your beta and reach the top.

- Crux and Crown