Would you swim in a river with snakes?

Today I’m sharing a story that, truthfully, I wouldn’t have believed myself if I hadn’t lived it.

A month or so ago, I found myself swimming in a beautiful river in Spain… with snakes.

Yup. You read that right!

Let me rewind.

I LOVE swimming in the wild, especially rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It’s something that’s been in my blood since I was a little girl growing up in Colombia. My dad has always been adventurous, and he raised me and my sister to embrace spontaneity, nature, fun and freedom. Colombia is full of incredible rivers, and many of my core childhood memories are of us pulling over during road trips just to jump in, swim around, and enjoy ourselves.

Even now, decades later, that spirit hasn’t left me. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of joy, freedom and aliveness I get when I jump in a fresh river, especially on a hot day! It’s my ultimate blissful place.

So, when I was in Spain recently, I went in search of wild swimming spots. I found the perfect one - crystal clear water, peaceful, remote. Perfect. I got ready and walked towards the river in excited anticipation of feeling the fresh water against my skin and taking a refreshing dip.

Until I saw the snake. Yikes.

It was small - maybe 30 cm, just gliding gently through the water. And I surprised myself… because I didn’t panic. I just watched it. I even asked myself, ‘Can I still go in knowing there are snakes in there?’

And the answer, somehow, was yes.

Now, just to clarify, I wasn’t being reckless. I’d spoken to locals who swam there often, and the snakes weren’t venomous. I stayed aware, but I also trusted my judgment. It wasn’t about bravado; it was about knowing the difference between actual danger and perceived fear.

And that’s where the metaphor hit me.

So often in business (and life), we hesitate to take the leap because we see a few ‘snakes’ in the water - things that could go wrong, things that make us nervous, things we can’t fully control.

So often, we let fear stop us altogether without first asking ourselves: Is this fear protecting me, or just keeping me small?

The first swim was lovely. Refreshing. DELICIOUS! The snake had swum away and I was left to enjoy the water in peace. But then came the second snake, and a short while later, a third! This one was quite a bit bigger, perhaps half a meter in length, chunkier, and swimming right towards me. I felt fear, and that’s when I really paused and thought: What on earth am I doing swimming in a river with snakes?!

I was amazed at myself that I remained in the water and that I observed the snakes, without allowing them to stop me from enjoying my swim. I felt fear initially (after all, I did grow up in a country where snakes are very dangerous), but I reminded myself that I was safe - that those snakes were probably more scared of me, and that I could still enjoy a wonderful swim.

I came out of that water feeling totally energised, alive, and unstoppable! not only because of how much I enjoy swimming in fresh wild water, but because I couldn’t believe that I had managed to overcome my fear of snakes in such a way. (Pic at the top of the email is of me in that actual river - couldn't get the snakes in the photo though!).

It was only later that I realised how symbolic the whole thing was.

Over the past few years, I’ve done a lot of work facing fears, stretching outside my comfort zone, rewriting the old narratives that used to keep me small, and growing beyond the limits that my past ‘Marcela’ (and society!) had imposed. And this swim? It was like a metaphor for everything I’ve learned. I still feel the fear sometimes, but I no longer let it stop me from taking meaningful action.

The river was beautiful. The experience was magical. But it came with snakes. And still, I said yes.

Because fear doesn’t mean we don’t take action. It just means we take action with discernment.

Some fears are there for a reason. But others? They’re echoes from the past, or stories we’ve internalised, or simply the discomfort of doing something unfamiliar. The threat is usually nowhere near as big as our nervous system believes.

The question becomes: What’s the real risk, and what’s the cost of not taking the leap?

I appreciate this is probably quite an unusual example! I know that 99% of people would absolutely not go into a river knowing that there are snakes in there, and I don’t blame them! For me, what I took from the experience is that I can now differentiate between perceived and actual fear. I knew the river was safe, but my nervous system was still in alert mode because of the real threat of dangerous snakes back in Colombia. I was able to overcome that fear using judgement and discernment, and I had the most magical swim!

Over to you – I’m curious:

What’s the metaphorical ‘river’ you know you want to swim in… but you’re hesitating because of perceived fears that may not actually be a true threat?

What dream, project, or idea are you keeping on hold because there might be a few ‘snakes’ in the water: some discomfort, some potential setbacks, a few things that might not go perfectly?

But what if the river is WORTH IT?

What if the joy, freedom, connection, impact - or whatever you truly want, is just on the other side of that fear?

If you’re wanting to take action on something, but you are feeling fearful, here are a few gentle questions and strategies to help you move forward:

1. Ask yourself: Is this fear protective… or limiting?

Not all fear is bad. But some fear is outdated, based on past experiences or imagined worst-case scenarios.

2. Zoom out. What’s the bigger picture?

Reconnect to the why behind what you’re trying to do. Sometimes clarity around your purpose gives you the courage to keep going.

3. Take one small, conscious step.

Courage isn’t about being fearless, it’s about moving anyway. Don’t wait to feel ready. Start with one small, intentional action.

4. Trust your discernment.

You don’t have to throw yourself into every challenge blindly. But you can start recognising the difference between intuition and resistance.

5. Remind yourself: The magic often lives on the other side of discomfort.

Whether it’s launching an offer, showing up online, or saying yes to something new… growth rarely feels comfortable, but it’s always expansive.

I’d love to hear your reflections! Do hit reply and let me know!

Wishing you a fantastic week!

With love and courage,

Marcela

P.S. Please don’t swim in wild rivers unless you’ve checked with locals and you’re confident the environment is safe! Nature is magical, but let’s keep it smart and respectful too.

💭 Quote of the week (two this week!)

'Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.'

— Nelson Mandela

'Don’t let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen.'

— Doe Zantamata

👣 If you’d like to try out coaching for free, click here to book a 30 miniute Discovery Coaching Session via Zoom.

📬 Know someone who’d find this newsletter valuable? I would be so grateful if you would share this email with them.

🗣️ My business grows through word of mouth and client referrals. If you know someone that could potentially benefit from coaching, I would be very grateful for your referral. Thank you.

Dr Marcela Aguirre

Helping Brilliant Women Solopreneurs & Founders Gain the Know-How & Confidence to Build a Sustainable One-Person Business | ICF Certified Coach | Doctor | Ex-Military Officer | 1:1 | Group Coaching & Workshops | Speaker