Eric and I both love the expression from Vince Lombardi who said “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.“
You see, the people who reached the summit of any proverbial peak in their lives didn’t get there by accident and certainly didn’t have an easy time getting there.
I was thinking about this expression a little more and for me the real lesson here is that those who triumphed got there step by step.
Often when a problem appears too large, too impossible and too unmentionable to deal with, it’s easy to give up.
Perhaps we can start with a very small part of it rather? Like blocks of lego. Pieces of a puzzle.
When I walk up a mountain and I look into the distance at the peak it always seems impossible to imagine being at the top.
At that point I focus my gaze and my steps on the path just a few meters ahead. After doing that for a period of time I lift my head and am amazed at how far I have ascended.
When you are next overwhelmed about the extremely challenging things you must achieve I would encourage you to break them down into bite-size chunks that you can note down and begin to tick off.
For example, if you want to stop eating junk start with JUST one healthy meal and take it one meal at a time. If you need to lose 50kgs, start with the first 5. If you want to run 42km start with the first 3.
The hard part is:
- To understand and accept that you have to do this small step by small step.
- To have the persistence, resolve and belief to commit to it – even when it feels like it is not working.
I wish you courage in tackling your hardest challenges because in truth they are what stand between you and your best life!
