Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.

DAG HAMMARSKJOLD

When you stand at the base of a mountain looking towards the peak, does the mountain look conquerable or does it appear impossible to climb?

Our perceptions deliver results far before any effort is put towards the actual activation of those endeavors.

It is more than optimism that brings us to the point of summiting the peak of a mountain. It is a devout belief in ourselves and our core determination to prevail under all circumstances that ultimately carries through and delivers on the optimistic perspective.

In our approach, we visualize the mountain, and our exhilaration in having accomplished this feat, and then we commence on the ascent, without fear or doubt. During the climb, we are not focusing on how high the mountain is (metaphorically speaking), but rather, how we are approaching each aspect of our climb. We stay on point by concentrating on technique, surveying the challenges in the near proximity to ourselves and working through each of those variables, until eventually… there we are, standing atop the peak, looking at the new vista beyond the mountain.

To better understand the psychology of how and why this is so important, we are well served to watch our behaviors in smaller circumstances and witness how and why this phenomenon works so well.

Whenever we are on a journey, be it a hike, a treadmill, a road trip, a plane flight, or similar, we are working mentally to parcel out time and/or effort required to reach a destination. Sometimes, it is more exhausting to keep seeing the larger picture, and instead, we opt to count on intervals. The programming on treadmills and similar machines capitalize on this perspective by allowing sequences of more difficult segments which are clearly visualized, so that we as the person exerting the exercise, will know that a difficult stretch is coming, and give us a window in our mind of how long we must continue to work before we get a reprieve. The mental perspective of what we are encountering, and what we must do to prevail, is of the greatest importance to our full journey.

Of equal importance is keeping our mindset focused on the direct plan of attack and not distracting ourselves with other external distractions. Keeping your mind in the present moment, also known as the NOW, is even more important. Can you imagine hanging on the side of a cliff on your approach to summit Everest, and texting with a friend about the outcome of a sporting event? When you are ascending, your entire focus must be on the ascent. Anything less than that commitment could very well create a lethal peril from which you may never escape.

When you do finally summit, and your efforts have yielded your ultimate reward, you will then truly recognize that the mountain was not as insurmountable as it appeared from the base.

Happy Monday!