Climbing your mountain: The journey to finding your purpose
We all have our mountains to climb. These aren’t just the literal peaks that scrape our skies, but the metaphorical ones that loom in our minds, representing our deepest goals and challenges. These mountains often symbolize our quest for purpose, a path that can be as rewarding as it is demanding.
The First Glimpse of the Peak
Imagine you’re standing at the base of a grand mountain. It’s immense, shrouded partly in mist, and the peak is barely visible through the clouds. This was how I felt when I first decided to write my book, Authentically You. The idea of writing a book was my mountain, vast and seemingly insurmountable.
Small Steps on a Rocky Path
Every mountain journey begins with a single step. For me, it was brainstorming. Ideas are the small stones you find along the path; some are keepers, and others you toss aside. I gathered these stones through long discussions with friends and family, who acted as my sherpa, guiding and supporting me through this initial phase. Each conversation helped me to see the path a little clearer, to map out my route up this colossal mountain.
Setting Up Camp: Goals Along the Way
As with any climb, setting up temporary camps helps acclimatize and prepare for steeper ascents. My weekly word count goals were these camps. Each week, I aimed to write a specific amount, which sometimes felt like trying to find a flat piece of ground on a rugged slope. These goals kept me anchored, preventing the altitude of procrastination from getting the better of me.
Maintaining Boundaries: The Rope That Keeps You Safe
On a mountain, a rope can save your life, connecting you to your fellow climbers, securing you as you face treacherous paths. In life, and especially while writing this book, maintaining boundaries between my personal life and work was my lifeline. It ensured I didn’t slip into the crevasses of burnout or let the avalanches of daily demands bury me. I knew where my edges were and how far I could push myself before I needed to rest and recharge.
The Summit Push: Sharing Your Climb
Reaching the summit of your mountain is a moment of triumph, but the climb isn’t truly complete until you share that victory. Launching Authentically You into the world was my summit push. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, stepping out onto the peak for everyone to see, vulnerable to the elements. Yet, as others began to traverse through the pages, their feedback and interpretations of my journey added new layers to the experience, enriching the journey beyond my solitary climb.
The Descent: Reflecting on the Climb
Every mountain climber knows that reaching the summit is only half the journey—the descent is just as important. As I reflect on my path to writing Authentically You, I see a mountain behind me littered with the echoes of laughter, long nights, challenging revisions, and ultimately, the cheers of accomplishment. This mountain has taught me the essence of persistence, the beauty of slow and steady progress, and the importance of keeping sight of the peak, even when clouds obscure the view.
To you, standing at the base of your mountain, whether it’s finding your career path, forging relationships, or discovering your passion—know that your mountain is climbable. Your path may be different from mine, but remember that every step, every camp, and every boundary is part of your unique expedition. Keep climbing, and one day, you’ll find your summit.