By Arti Bali,
New Delhi, Feb 12 (.) South Pole expeditions are increasingly forced to change routes and adapt strategies as climate-driven hazards reshape the Antarctic landscape. For seasoned expeditioners Jens and Alexandra, navigating this extreme environment is as much a test of fortitude as it is of skill. Their journey through Antarctica offers insights not only into survival in one of the harshest places on Earth but also into resilience, focus, and determination under pressure.
Antarctica’s vast, frozen expanses push both body and mind to their limits, revealing lessons that extend far beyond the ice.
During their expedition, Jens and Alexandra encountered moments that threatened the success of their mission. Mentioning a particularly precarious situation, Jens said, “One of our sleds had a crack. In such a situation, it is very important to remain calm and see the challenge rather than the problem. You need to switch from problem-oriented thinking to solution-oriented thinking. This helps you open yourself up to a creative solution.”
By focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem, they were able to repair the sled and continue their journey.
For Alexandra, the challenge was both deeply personal and physically punishing. A painful rib injury made every step excruciating, casting doubt on whether he could even reach the South Pole. “After a while, the pain became so overwhelming that we had to take a day of rest,” she recalled. “It was not clear if we would be able to continue. The entire expedition was in question. Reaching the South Pole seemed uncertain.”
Yet, rather than surrendering to despair, he adopted a mindset that transformed the ordeal. “I decided to keep going, focusing only on the next step,” she explained. “Each day, I would walk only as far as I could manage. I stopped thinking about the South Pole and concentrated entirely on that single day. I learned to live in the here and now. By doing this, I freed up a lot of energy. Breaking the journey into small, manageable steps is what ultimately brought me to the South Pole.”
Expeditions to polar regions demand more than endurance,they require leadership that inspires trust and cohesion under extreme stress. Jens shares insights relevant to students and young professionals navigating high-pressure environments:
“Ensure that motivation for any action comes from within. Your decisions and actions should not be dependent on what others say or do. Furthermore, view high-pressure situations as a personal challenge and an opportunity instead of a problem. Don’t try to be perfect, but never stop trying to improve yourself. Accept the challenge with joy. Feeling joy about the challenge will help you transform pressure into positive energy. This will help you grow personally and professionally.”
Maintaining team morale during long days of isolation and fatigue was equally critical. Alexandra emphasises, “Motivate the team to work together constructively, even if disagreements arise. Maintain serenity and unwavering optimism in every situation. Most importantly, make sure that every team member sees themselves as a critical part of the whole undertaking. You have to ensure that each member identifies with the goal and sees it as important to them.”
He also notes the importance of humor and personal space: “Especially in an extreme environment like this expedition, you also have to ensure personal space for each team member. Finally, we have seen on many occasions that humor and joy can help you overcome even the most demanding situations.”
Alexandra describes the lesson learned from enduring excruciating pain: “This moment taught me that we are capable of much more than we think. Indeed, very often it is we ourselves who limit ourselves. If we break through these mental boundaries, a lot of energy is freed up that will help us reach even the highest goals. If you allow yourself to be limited by the boundaries you set in your mind, you rob yourself of your true potential.”
Jens also shared advice for those looking to push beyond their comfort zones: “Ask yourself why you want to do this. If your only answer is, ‘I cannot but do it,’ and you feel the strength within yourself, then go for it! Believe in yourself and your dream, but make sure you prepare thoroughly and diligently.”
Physical and mental preparation are essential for polar expeditions, but mindset often proves even more crucial. Jens and Alexandra stressed, “Age should not be considered a limitation. Of course, you need a certain level of physical, mental, and energetic preparation. The longer the expedition, the more endurance, resilience, and mental strength are required. Indeed, mental strength often plays a more important role than physical condition.”
“Diligent preparation is important to feel confident even in challenging situations. The better prepared you are at all levels, and the more experience you have, the less likely you are to encounter fear. Mental preparation is key. Ahead of the expedition, during meditation, we visualize the situations we are afraid of and work on overcoming that fear.”
“Fear is often an important signal, but it must not evolve into panic. To prevent this, we use special breathing techniques. Only then are we able to remain calm and make the necessary decisions regarding safety. If we can control our breathing, we can also control our emotional state and fear.”
The Policy Centre & Gender Lab (PCGL) of the college, in collaboration with UNESCO and Her World India, organized a multimedia session titled “Live Your Dreams: Lessons from Antarctica,” aimed at linking experiences from extreme environments to everyday challenges. Miranda House College’s Principal, Bijayalaxmi Nanda, said that stories from harsh conditions encourage individuals to push personal limits and offer insights relevant to daily life and leadership.
In the panel discussion, polar expeditioner and leadership specialist Jens Neumann spoke about teamwork and decision-making in demanding situations, while psychologist and polar explorer Alexandra Guryeva highlighted the importance of mental strength, self-discovery, and emotional balance during isolation. Rakhee Bakshee, moderator from Her World India, facilitated the session.
The experiences of Jens and Alexandra in Antarctica illuminate universal principles for navigating extreme challenges: remain solution-oriented, focus on the present, cultivate inner motivation, and embrace joy even in adversity. Their journey reminds us that personal limits are often mental constructs, and that preparation, resilience, and optimism can transform even the harshest environment into a crucible for growth.
When a young attendee asked about the impact of climate change, the duo said that it was a profound learning experience aimed at benefiting humankind. The expeditioners described their journey as a “pilgrimage.”
“If you break through the mental boundaries you set for yourself, a lot of energy is freed up, allowing you to reach even the highest goals.”
In the frozen vastness of Antarctica, they discovered that true exploration begins not with crossing the ice, but with mastering the mind.
. .
