Climbers call it a belay: someone on the ground holding your rope. Know who’s holding yours.

Risk is only survivable when something is anchored below you. The person on the ground is not climbing, is not getting the view, and is the entire reason a fall is a scare rather than a disaster. Most people can name their goals in detail and go blank when asked who is holding their rope.

Sit with that question for a minute and answer it with actual names. If you cannot think of one, that is worth knowing now rather than mid climb. Then tell whoever it is that they hold that position, and ask whose rope you are on.