“I’ve been working for 15 years,” Jean said, “I’m just not getting anywhere. By now I know all the right things to do, but I don’t do them. I’m giving up. I am a failure in life. What kind of person am I? I am a failure, right?

This is Peter Ng. Welcome to my motivational series – Awakening the Power within You – Climb Every Mountain.

“Probably, a growing adult and coming terms with maturity.” I answered. A startled look appeared on Jean’s face. “Growing and coming to terms? Did you hear what I have said?”

“Yes, I heard. But if you weren’t growing, you wouldn’t lament your failures. You’d be satisfied about your success and tell yourself how good you are.” I said. “But I’m so discouraged, and I failed so many times.” Jean replied.

One quote I would like to share “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

If we focus on what we’re not or what we haven’t accomplished, we are allowing negative and self-defeating thoughts to make advances into our mind, and making us feels like failures. It takes real courage to say “I’m ready to take responsibility and get my life straightened out.” Too many people want to live victorious lives, but they don’t want to put up with the battles.

Reaching our goals in life is similar to climbing mountain. I had an adventure to climb Mount Kinabula but I doubted that I can reach the second summit. Halfway the journey I wanted to give up as the nature elements were wearing me down, and I am weary and having breathing difficulties. My guide suggests that I accompanied them for another hour’s journey, and if I don’t feel that I can make it, I can give up the quest. I agreed, and climbed for slight more than an hour. This time I really wanted to give up as I am experiencing breathlessness and my eyes are dry and tired. My guide smiled and said, “Did you see the cliff over there, that’s the summit, do you really want to give up now? You don’t know what you are missing. Anyway, you have three choices – you can either wait here for our return; or go back to the base-camp on your own; or just walked to the summit with us.”

Guess what, I walked up and within an hour and a half, we reached our destination. The moment I accomplished my quest, and looking back, it isn’t that difficult after all. We make choices everyday – you can quit; camp; or climb. Our choices make us who we are.

One of the easiest ways out of any unpleasantness in life is to ‘QUIT’. Somehow, the thoughts of follow-through is not as easy as many people think. In order to follow-through, we need perseverance, persistency, keeping our focus on the overall objectives, and would not let the minor hiccups steals our joy and becomes a distraction. Whether in business, in work, or in life, there are always certain aspects which we dislikes, reluctance to do, some behavioral patterns that we criticize, or personalities we despise. We allow all the minor flaws and inconveniences to steal our joy of victories. When that happens, we simply quit – quit from the job; quit from the business; or quit from the relationship.

It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up. It is not what we think, but how we think it that creates fear. One of the major causes for people to give up is fear. Anger and fear are close relatives. When we experience fear of failures, we become angry with ourselves for not being able to achieve the things we set forth. The good news here is fear is based on perception, not reality.

Let’s learn from the mountain-climbing story:

• A good mentor that know your potentials.
• Words of encouragement when facing challenges.
• When every element is against you, look at the final destination – it will give you the added energy and excitement to complete.
• Stop using words of fear (not climbing; but walking up); but words of joy.
• Willpower comes from the conscious mind, whereas fear comes from deeper physiological processes.
• Change the way you think about the future to stop feeling afraid now, in the present.
• Stop feeding your fear with worries. Worrying makes you feel powerless.
• Focus on your strengths; not weaknesses.

Remember, you CAN climb every mountain!