How do you feel about hiking? Whether you’re a fan or not, I think you’ll be able to relate to this analogy:
There’s a hiking trail not too far from where I live that is switchback after switchback all the way from the bottom to the top. It’s not my favorite trail because of this. I like to get to my destination as quickly and efficiently as I can without having to do what feels like retracing the many steps I’ve already taken. However, because of these many switchbacks, the hike is physically much easier. Instead of hiking straight up the side of a mountain, those who choose to do this hike can take time to enjoy the beautiful view (and still challenging experience) while not pushing their bodies to the limit.
Switchbacks and setbacks sound similar and really actually are. Think about the hike in this example as being our lives or the goals that we have set for ourselves. The switchbacks are setbacks, or times where we think we might have “failed”.
If you ever feel stuck or like life is a constant battle of back and forth motions that are getting you no where, I challenge you to start looking at your experiences from the perspective of being on this hike. Although it’s rough, and yes, you might feel like these trials are never going to let you progress, try your best to recognize that these moments are actually moving you forward. You may not be getting to your goals as quickly as you want, but this could be something greater telling you that you need to enjoy your journey a little more, because you’ll most likely get way more out of the journey than out of the goal itself.
As you come across times that seem to set you back, feel free to comment and share your experiences on how you got through by using this mindset! If you’re having a hard time getting through it, know that you got this and you’re going to make it through! Just keep going!
Share Your Thoughts