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Ziplining is an unusual activity, in that it’s a mental challenge as much as a physical one. The basics of it are fairly straightforward: you’re strapped into a harness which attaches to a metal cable strung between two points. You stand at one end, let go, and go skimming along the line to the other end, generally at a considerable height and distance. The breeze whips your face and hair; it feels almost like flying.

There’s a moment in ziplining where you make a decision. It’s the decision to step off the ledge into nothing, and trust the harness and the cable with your life. The excitement and fear involved are similar to many other things in life: signing a big contract, starting a new business, buying a house, moving to a new city. That simultaneous thrill and terror is at the base of all important decisions – taking a risk, and trusting yourself to do so.

Hovering on the edge is almost the most important part of this activity. You’re asking yourself a question: Do I dare to do this? And then you step off that ledge. 

Your endorphins are racing, your heart rate is raised, all of your senses are heightened and aware. Would you ever have seen a forest from this angle if you hadn’t taken that risk? Would you ever have felt the thrill of soaring through the air and gaining speed as your body weight carries you onward? 

By continuing to take risks and push yourself, you stay active and agile. Confronting your fears is a terrifying thing – but when you live constantly within the limits of your comfort zone, are you ever really challenging yourself? Ziplining is a great way to try out facing your fears. 

If you’re looking for your next adrenalin hit, there are places to zipline all over the world. In Costa Rica, visit Arenal and zipline over La Fortuna Waterfall, or through the foothills of the Arenal Volcano, where the thrillingly beautiful views will take your breath away. The longest zip line in the world is in Ras al Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates – it’s almost three kilometers in length, and you’ll reach speeds of over 120 km/h before you get to the end. You can zipline from the Victoria Falls Bridge in Zimbabwe, and skim over the magnificent waterfall and the roaring Zambezi river just below.

Wherever you decide to try it out, ziplining is one of the most exciting activities you can partake in. The sheer adrenalin rush and risk of it all are unrivaled, and there’s a deeper meaning to it as well.When you’re standing on the edge of a precipice, it takes a certain amount of courage and trust to leap off into the void. If you can trust yourself to make decisions that scare you, you can start applying that to the rest of your life. In the end, the world is as limitless as you want it to be.