Success Is A Mountain
We're all climbers. Climbers clamouring to get to the top of a mountain that has no peak. We're hellbent on reaching the top, a mere figment of our imagination. We're so intent on reaching the summit, most of us don't even know why we started climbing in the first place. The climb to success is a strange expedition.
North Americans live in a success-driven society. We constantly seek improvements, enhancements, amendments, adjustments - all in the hopes of eking out a little more progress towards an arbitrary ideal of success. This notion of success being of paramount importance is not your own idea. It's implanted in your mind by thousands of advertisements. It's passed onto you through the constant refrain of those that have already been indoctrinated into the cult of success.
I get caught up in this endless pursuit of success too, but I feel it comes at a high cost. The need for success makes me fearful of doing what I truly want to do, for fear of losing face in the eyes of others if I fail. Wanting success makes me worried that expressing who I really am and what I actually think will compromise my chances at a good life down the road. Success urges us to fall in line, make the "smart" decision, and to snuff out anything else that doesn't contribute to our chances of "succeeding". Whatever the hell that means, right?
For most people, there will never be enough success. There's always another promotion that earns a new title. There's always another dollar to make. There's always another award to strive for. The pursuit is relentless, and the climb is never ending.
But, if you never stop climbing, how will you ever enjoy the view? Perhaps, if you were to stop, and survey the land, you'd have a moment to ponder why you started climbing in the first place. You'll realize you can stop, right here, and that would be fine. Or you'll realize that you can climb down now, if you feel inclined. Or, after this moment to breathe, you can continue your climb with greater resolution, knowing that you'd like to go a little higher still.
But make sure to stop at some point and enjoy the view. It's what makes the climb worthwhile.
Like this post? Please feel free to follow me
Learn about The Myth of The Forever-Happy-Switch
Discover what MMA Can Teach You About Life
Read my opinion on Creating First And Asking Questions Later
Read my article on Vulnerability in Art
Check out my piece on What One Follower Is Worth On Steemit
Image Credits: main image created in Canva; fancy underline credit; main image source
We climb, we climb, we climb!!! Then all the sudden we look around and see why we climbed. I love the story of tourists who run up to the top of the mountain only to say that they did and then come right back down, yet the monk stays at the top all day long. @chrismccron
@lonestarpoet
Haha, I like that anecdote!
We need good reasons for the things we do (unless they are just plain old fun). Success seems to be something people want very badly, but might have some difficulty articulating exactly why that is the case. It's fruitful to pause and think about it for a moment.
Thanks for commenting!
Exactly!!! Much of my poetry is written around this thought :)
I'm going to peruse your blog because I see you are a writer as well!
This new job of yours is teaching you a lot of things I guess.
Ha! This is actually an old piece that I had intended on publishing a long time ago.
But yes, perhaps the new job brought it back into my mind ;) that would make sense.
Awesome.
Valid point here to consider. Too many of us are focused on going further, being better and succeeding. We need to stop every so often and enjoy!
It's fun climbing, but it's not the only thing to enjoy on the mountain!
Loving that metaphor! Great stuff @chrismccron.
Thank you @derekrichardson! That means a lot.
"Climb every mountain
Enjoy every view
Don't follow every dollar
Success is up to you." ~ Me
(apologies to Rodgers & Hammerstein 😉)
Excellent reminder, dear @chrismccron! Happy climbing!
Lol I love your quote. I'll have to steal it and make a beautiful quote card with it. No0o I wouldn't do that to you! :)
LOLOL! Hey, go for it - I stole it (in a roundabout way) from R&H, so turnabout's fair play. Plus, it took all of five seconds to write. 😜
Oh, and speaking of stealing, you should check out the comments under the appreciator post - I stole yet another gif from giphy and reworked it for the three winners. 👼
Cool and reflective read, Chris! Yeah, climbing is sort of addictive, but as you said, enjoying the view is soo worth stopping! Thank you! :)
It's true. The view we get to enjoy is the fruit of labours! I am happy you enjoyed the post.
This is why it's important to assess your priorities and even make a list :)
And next, try to understand what work makes you fulfilled, no matter if successful or not. :)
I think the thing is we start to make our own definitions of success, whether we are bound by societies standards or not. Your priorities and if you meet them = success. Really nice to see you here again @kristyglas.
This post feels so refreshing!
A lot of people constantly talk about success and nothing less. But where are we supposed to be ourselves if there's no space for anything, but "The Climb".
I know a lot of men that need to read this as they are constantly looking for success, but they all turned into the same person.
I hardly recognize them anymore.
Thank you for this post. I needed to read it.
Hey @lordnigel93. I am glad this post stuck to you. It's a huge relief when we give ourselves permission to revoke our membership from the cult of success, or at least, a cult with a different definition than our own version of success. And yes, when we all strive for the same ideal, we become bland copies of one another.
Thank you for your comment. This is one of my favourite comments I've recieved so far.
I like this whole analogy/visual. I always do better at understand what is going on with me when I can "see" it. For me, right now, I am at an odd point in life. I don't define success in the same way as a lot of people, but I had a goal to raise kids and do it the way I thought it should be done... so I've been climbing that mountain for 26 years now (or five mountains???) with many little successes in other areas as time has passed. Of course the other successes were/are important to me, but now that my last child is 17, I feel like I'm standing on the mountain and looking around going, "What next?"
And now I realize that I'm starting a whole new post!
Anyway, fantastic food for thought and you really REALLY got me thinking.
Hey @Byn. I am glad that you enjoy my writing. I remember that in my first week of Steemit you paid me a really nice compliment, and it meant a lot to me. I am so glad this post has you amped up!
Absolutely. I'll post a link to your post and tag you when I get my thoughts written out. You're a great writer!
Please do! I'd love to see it.
I wrote it. I tried not to ramble too much, but man, you REALLY got me thinking. And honestly, I feel better than I have in a long time about my own "Mountains"! Thank you again. Here is my post: Success is a Mountain: My Thoughts
I felt the same too. Right now, I've been doing everything for success. I am all over my dream, but you know what - everything will be paid off soon. The view at the top is always better, right? So let's keep moving, no turning back until we reach the peak of success. :) May you be blessed in your endeavours.
I think that sometimes trying to get to the next level is what makes us miserable. Sometimes, we can reach a level of success that is acceptable, and it's fine to dwell there for awhile. However, if you find the pursuit of success to be intensely rewarding and meaningful, more power to you! I think we have to construct our own ideals of success, and move towards those. We all aren't on the same mountain!