Keep climbing...the view is worth it!

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Glacier National Park, Montana.

Our main goal was to see a glacier before they are all melted.  The experts predict that all the glaciers will be gone by 2030.  That’s only eight years away!

We hiked about 30 miles over five days.  Snowcapped peaks, rolling green hills, pristine lakes, and roaring waterfalls - the scenery is absolutely spectacular. 

My favorite hike was a short, but steep, climb to Apikuni Falls.

The hike begins in an open field, then the trail enters a pine forest and begins to ascend.  At several points, I had to stop and catch my breath.  

After a rest I continued, putting one foot in front of the other.  Soon, I could hear the rushing water of the falls beckoning me to keep going.

Along the way we encountered hikers coming down from the summit.  “The view is worth it.  Keep climbing,” they encouraged.

Eventually, the trail exits the pine forest and finally the waterfall comes into view. 

You could stop here if you wanted. You could decide, that’s close enough, turn around, and begin to climb back down to the car. 

But you would be missing out.

You would miss feeling the mist of the waterfall on your face.  You would miss the rainbow created by the angle of the sun.  You would miss the utter satisfaction of scrambling up rocks to behold an amazing view of the lake and valley below.

Scrambling up the rocks is my favorite part of the hike.  It’s the part where I get dirty.  I may have to scoot on my backside or pull myself up by my fingertips.  It’s slow and methodical, using my brain as much as my body to find the right foothold.  This is where work turns to play.

Eventually, I made it to the base of Apikuni Falls.  I felt the mist on my face, caught the rainbow in the sun, and beheld the awesome view of Lake Sherburne below.  It was worth the effort.

We often quit just before achieving the ultimate reward.

We get tired.  We get distracted.  We get discouraged by others.  It’s easy to find excuses to settle for good when we are just steps from great.

Creating new habits is frustrating.  Learning a new skill is hard work. 

As we begin our journey into creating healthy boundaries we can get discouraged.  It’s easier to say yes when we really want to say NO. 

Please don’t quit on yourself.  Rest, catch your breath, and keep climbing.  You are so close to living the life you desire.

Remind yourself what’s waiting for you at the end of this journey from people pleaser to thoughtfully selfish.

• Freedom to do what makes you happy.
• Control over your time.
• Better relationships.
• More health, more wealth, more peace.

What does the view look like from the top of your thoughtfully selfish summit?

For more tips and tricks to Create Healthy Boundaries and Say NO With Confidence, download my free People Pleaser's Toolkit and begin practicing today.  

If you have questions about how Thoughtfully Selfish Coaching works, visit www.thoughtfullyselfish.com or if you are ready to talk 1:1 click here to schedule a 30-minute discovery chat with me.