My Trip into Hellhole Canyon: A piece about goal setting for ultimate success

My Trip into Hellhole Canyon: A piece about goal setting for ultimate success

From A Functional Approach with Dr. Jim Chialtas by Jim Chialtas, DACM, L.Ac.

March 16, 2026 · 17 min · Episode 157

About this episode

In this episode, Jim Chialtas shares a personal story of survival and the importance of mindful goal setting during a challenging experience in Hell Hole Canyon.

In this 157th episode, I recount a harrowing experience of survival, persistence, calm rational thinking, and realistic goal setting - all in the face of very real danger. My trip into and out of Hell Hole Canyon in Anza Borrego State Park, a literal desert paradise here in Southern California, started out as a lovely solo backpack and quickly turned into something much more important. It was a test of will, a humbling, and an expression of true freedom. Listen in and consider how goals, no matter how big, can be looked at and worked through mindfully. And in so doing... An approach like this can offer success, where failure often lurks around every corner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anza-Borrego_Desert_State_Park

People in this episode

Host: Jim Chialtas

Topics covered

  • goal setting
  • survival
  • persistence
  • mindfulness
  • freedom
  • success

Keywords

  • goal setting
  • survival
  • persistence
  • mindfulness
  • freedom
  • success
  • desert

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Hell Hole Canyon, Anza Borrego State Park, Southern California

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