Climbing Your Mountain

Most people admire individuals who can successfully climb and conquer the almost insurmountable mountains of the world. Conquering Mt. Everest is not a hap-hazard undertaking. It requires meticulous planning and analysis of a variety of situation that one might face while climbing to the peak. Whether you realize it or not, successful people in other fields, in order to maximize their personal effectiveness must spend time reviewing their actions and the results of those actions. Fine tuning their efforts on a regular basis keeps their outlook fresh and their optimism high. And sometimes it only takes a small course adjustment to make a big difference in the outcome. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your journey towards excellence as you climb your personal mountain.

What do I stand for? People who have no stance about their life will generally stand for anything. And that scattered focus cannot get us laser beam success. Becoming very clear about our values and core beliefs is the starting point. Once we have those ideals crystal clear, we then know what actions we are willing to do and which ones we are not willing to undertake. Doing this will greatly simplify your decision process and you will become more satisfied with your decisions and the results you get. Remember that it’s all about developing a congruency between our inside thinking and our outside actions.

What mountain do I want to climb? We all have dreams. Unfortunately most people go to their grave with many of their dreams unfulfilled. And, perhaps fulfillment would only have required defining which mountain they wanted to climb. Making up your mind is half the game. Where is the empty spot in your heart? Why not develop some action to fill that void? This destination, if reached, is almost guaranteed to bring happiness and immense satisfaction. Want to have good feelings? Identify your mountain!

What is my personal growth plan? No one reading this article would ever think about building a new home without a plan. That would be a very foolish approach. Since what you do with your life is vastly more important than constructing any home, it makes perfectly good sense to have plans to develop personal growth. Begin by assessing your skill level and determining what new skills you need to acquire to help with your personal growth strategy. Who might you solicit to help with the accomplishment of your plan? We all need help. Climbing mountains alone is not a good idea. Find a mentor to guide you along the way and to help keep you on course. Come alive! No more coasting. No more just getting by. Go for it with a focused plan of action and a commitment to improve. Remember it’s mountain climbing time.

Start the process with an attitude adjustment. We may be able to experience moderate success with a lousy attitude but it is impossible to achieve great success without possessing the confidence a positive attitude provides. You must view your future as a possibility not impossibility. You must see, feel, and taste the fruits of self-improvement. You must feel yourself rising up the mountain and edging closer to the peak.

In the Catholic Church, the month before Christmas is known as the season of Advent. It is a period when Catholics prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas. Thus Advent is a time of joy and anticipation. Why not interject a bit of “Advent” into your daily routine. Commit to adopting a focused plan to help you climb your personal mountain. It’s an action well worth the effort. It’s a mountain well worth the climb.