From a distance, mountains can look intriguing. But the thought of climbing one can seem overwhelming. The closer you get to the mountain, the greater it looms. The peak, piercing through the sky, seems unimaginably unattainable. And the moment you are right up upon it, you feel insignificant, undeserving, and inconsequential.
But if you are daring, determined, and desire the challenge, you will attempt to climb that mountain.
A friend of mine has climbed 3 of the tallest mountains in the world and I love listening to his stories of scaling his way to success. “Many people stare upward toward the peak and can only define winning as standing on the summit. But it is important to appreciate the entire trek and see the success in every step.”
The rough and ridged landscape gives you something to hold onto. There is beauty in every eroded crack and crevice if you just take a moment to appreciate it. As you move ever-upward, each step is a victory for your eyes, ego, and soul.
Looking upward, you can always see someone ahead of you. Use that as inspiration, not as an excuse to quit. Learn that sometimes you will need to move sideways or backwards in order to move forward. The mountain is filled with reasons to stop, give up, and climb down. But you have to find something inside you, that thing that drives you to keep climbing.
I’ve never climbed any physical mountains, but I have overcome many overwhelming obstacles. I have seen people reach desired heights that have somehow eluded me. I have witnessed success come to some with ease and watched others struggle at the same task. But I’ve also learned to appreciate every journey. I understand that our time at the peak is fleeting; most of our time is spent on the climb. The climb is where the stories are born, where we are tested, and where we evolve into the best version of ourselves.
At the top of the mountain, you are not crowned king, instead, you are given a clearer view of the many more mountains yet to climb. Life is not a single mountain, it’s endless opportunities to grow. Each climb teaches us the tenacity, the toughness, and the tolerance it takes to tackle the next.
Stop looking at those above you. There will always be someone who got to the peak before you. Instead, help those struggling behind you, pull them up, and push them forward. Appreciate every inch of your journey, be grateful for the opportunity to ascend, and view every failed attempt as a lesson that better prepares you for your next climb.
And when you conjure up the courage to keep on climbing, along the way you’ll master happiness.
Mountains We Must Climb
As seen in Stroll, Hawthorn Woods CC Magazine. Follow “Bacon Bits with Master Happiness” on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Amazon Music, Audible, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Marty Jalove of Master Happiness is a Corporate Coach, Business Consultant, and Marketing Strategist that helps small businesses, teams, and individuals find focus, feel fulfilled, and have fun. Master Happiness stresses the importance of realistic goal setting, empowerment, and accountability in order to encourage employee and customer engagement and retention.
The secret is simple: Happy Employees attract Happy Customers and Happy Customers come back with Friends.
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