Some people climb mountains because “they are there to be climbed”. Other people climb mountains because they’re forced to – it’s the only way they know to get home.

I remember David (not his real name), a client who sought me out for help with obesity, depression and a host of other symptoms. A short time into his programme, he complained, “This is tough! I was kinda hoping you would just do some jiggery-pokery with my mind so I stop eating tomorrow.”

David was not being facetious or lazy. David wasn’t dealing with just one mountain – he had the entire Alps in front of him. They were made of stress, guilt and shame and they loomed high, jeering at his audacity in trying to challenge them.

Self Doubt

He doubted both his commitment to the task and his ability to tackle these mountains. Deep down he believed he was fated to spend his life sick, depressed and overweight. In the early days, he found this easier to accept than the mountain. After all, better the devil you know.

David could very easily have stopped his sessions during these early days. He came close several times but each time he would think about his dream of being well and would come back more determined to see it through. His persistence paid off.

Dilemma

David’s dilemma is the conflict between wanting something better and yet fearing the journey or one’s personal ability to achieve it.

Perhaps you’re experiencing a similar dilemma in some area of your life.

• A mountain may be standing between you and a job interview that you really want to confirm but haven’t been able to make yourself do so.
• Maybe you’re being prevented from healing a rift with someone or leaving an abusive relationship.
• Maybe, like David, you are suffering from an illness and can’t imagine better health.

Limiting Beliefs

There are a lot of voices, instructions, conditioning and memories making up that mountain and influencing your behaviour. They cause insecurities, anger and other self-sabotaging behaviours that have no place at a time when you are looking to further your personal development and growth.

Dealing with these limiting thoughts and beliefs lies at the heart of redefining your beliefs and values. You don’t need to deal with each and every one. You just need to deal with the important ones – the ones that allow the rest to exist.

Finding these important ones is not going to take forever – indeed, with the smaller “one peak” mountains, the issue can be resolved very quickly indeed.

But often, it’s not time that is the stumbling block. It’s the lack of persistance or continuity – giving up too soon because the thinking gets painfully difficult, taking long breaks in between dealing with aspects.

Persistence

Whether you’re helping yourself with the aid of books, a coach or a therapist, remember to stick with it. Use your coach for extra support during the more emotional times – it’s what she’s there for. Be persistent. Be regular.

Above all, be aware that what goes on in the mind consists of invisible energy. Invisible energy that has the power to shape your thoughts and the way you respond to the world around you.

When you’re learning to climb your mountain – no matter how big or small it is – what you’re actually doing is training that invisible energy to take valuable growth lessons from the past and use them in looking out for your future.