04/14/25
Two people are embarking on a quest to climb two different mountains.
The first person looks at the mountaintop and thinks…
I NEED to get to the top of that mountain.
I will be successful once I climb that mountain.
I will prove to myself and everyone else that I am capable of climbing this mountain.
What’s really stirring underneath the surface is…
I am not enough, and I will be enough once I get to the top of that mountain.
So they begin climbing with a lot of tension and eagerness.
With every few steps, they look at the mountaintop and feel distressed that there’s still such a distance between where they are now and where they want to be.
This anxiety grips them with every step, and the journey to the mountaintop is absent of any joy.
The second person looks at a different mountaintop and thinks…
I WANT to get to the top of that mountain.
I’m successful now, and I’m choosing to climb that mountain as my next challenge.
I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, I just enjoy climbing mountains.
What’s really stirring underneath the surface is…
I am enough, and getting to the top of that mountain will be a joyful experience.
With every few steps, they look at the mountaintop and feel content knowing they are exactly where they are supposed to be.
They are fully present during the climb, joyful with every step on their journey.
Both people reach the mountaintop in roughly the same amount of time.
The first person feels elated when they get to the mountaintop, but that sense of fulfillment fades quickly as they start to consider the next mountain they need to climb.
The second person feels about the same when they get to the mountaintop, devoid of any emotional highs and lows. They look forward to the next mountain they want to climb.
You have a choice, my friend.
You can choose to approach your goals with the same energy as the first person, fueled by attachment, anxiety, and dependency.
Or, you can choose to approach your goals with the same energy as the second person, fueled by detachment, contentment, and joy.
Which will you choose?
Rooting for you,
Jay (encouraging you to joyfully climb your mountain)
