How to fall uphill infographic. A bicyclist falls up a mountain until they are standing on the top.
If your dream is a mountain, where are you? Going from the impossible to the possible.

How to fall uphill

Can you identify where you are in the process of turning dreams into reality?

A free worksheet

This graphic has been simmering in my brain for years. I think it really captures the essence of how doubt and fear are essential to any adventure. Imagine your dream is a mountain. We all start our grand adventure at the bottom. It is the place with all the possibilities. As you climb, sometimes you’ll trip and fall. But you’ll notice that when you get back up, you’ve accidentally traveled farther up the mountain, and you’ve learned from your mistakes. We call these happy accidents falling uphill.

How to fall uphill worksheets
How to fall uphill worksheets in black and white and color. Identify your dream and what step you are on. Good for kids and adults.

This may be my favorite worksheet of all time. If you don’t know, I rode my bicycle around the world. This infographic describes all the different stages I went through. The first part of being a good adventurer is knowing where you are, and this worksheet helps you figure that out. It also gives a hint about what to do if you are stuck. Believe me, I wish I knew this stuff when I first started on my adventure.

Printout instructions: Below, you can download the free, PDF worksheet. It’s good for kids and adults. Each worksheet includes brief instructions, but here, I explain the concepts in depth. (If you are a facilitator, you can summarize or paraphrase these ideas for your group.)

Bonus poster: I’ve also included both a black and white and color version without the instructions which will make great inspirational posters for your office or classroom.

Update: This graphic was actually adapted and used in our new book “Dream It!” to teach kids how to turn dreams into reality. If you like the idea of falling uphill, you love our book. It will teach the first and most important step in any adventure: how to find your passion.

Download below.

If you liked this…

…you might also like our downloadable classroom resources for Falling Uphill, Scott’s bicycle ride around the world.

Download the How to fall uphill

This free PDF is premium content. Please subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to download. Thanks! And have fun!

This is a printer-friendly, high-res PDF. You’ll get both a color (if available) and a black-and-white version. Each PDF comes with simple instructions. We recommend tracking your progress by putting all your activities into a 3-ring binder.

If you enjoyed this story…

  • We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
  • Subscribe to get new stories in your inbox.
  • If you are feeling generous, even $1 helps. 
  • And/or please share.

Thanks. Your kindness keeps us motivated.

A bucket with the word "Dreams" inside pictured here on a wooden table with a copper pen.

Bucket List Notepad

This fun notepad is a fun size, which makes it easy to complete. You can pin it on your dream board, hang it on the refrigerator, or stick it to the bathroom mirror. You can even use it as a to-do list, because those are mini dreams, too. These make fun handouts for all your friends. More info about the Bucket List Notepad. 

Only $4.50