A pleasant day out

About five years ago I spent the day climbing a 13,000-foot mountain in Colorado. I was in good physical condition and making rapid progress towards the summit. To set my pace I was wearing a Fitbit monitor, keeping my heart rate in an ideal zone for the altitude and my capabilities.

While I was enjoying the spectacular views and weather, I noticed that some of the other hikers were not able to climb as fast as I could and it gave me a good feeling about the physical condition I was in. I began to think about how they would probably benefit from some of my exercise routines. I don’t think I externally smiled, but I certainly felt it inside!

Then the storm clouds came

Then all of a sudden, a mountain runner came up the trail and overtook me. These runners are extraordinary and almost inhuman. I started to think about how my exercise routine sucked and that if I only worked harder, I could be as fast. Then much to my great dismay, because there was a loop in the trail, the runner passed me up again. Discouragement swept over me and I felt the energy drain out of me as the top of the mountain began to feel much further away.

As I continued to climb I realised how silly of a mental state I was in. My hike was never a competition for a prize to get to the top in the fastest time, it was about me enjoying the experience and my capabilities to make such an outing. I settled down and enjoyed the rest of the day. Fortunately, that mountain runner did not ‘test’ me by overtaking me a third time!

Comparison is Toxic

It occurred to me that there was a life lesson in this for me. When I started to compare my capabilities to those around me, I lost perspective on being in the zone of my capabilities. I was missing the beauty around me and the joy of making progress on my goal to reach the top of the mountain. My outlook became preoccupied with things that were not building me up.

The good things that were happening at the moment were becoming toxic and the loss of perspective was damaging. On one hand, I was falling into the trap of judging the other hiker’s exercise routines. Yet on the other, I was becoming jealous of someone who was climbing faster than me. It was helping no one and it was certainly hurting me. Had I continued in this frame of mind, maybe I would have even considered abandoning my climb for that day.

Losing your sight of the summit

The top of that mountain represented a point of focus, like my north star. For me as a follower of Jesus, it is a sense of my original design or calling. It is my belief of how I am to contribute to the world in a way that is ‘significant’ for me. When we are focused on staying in our own zone, and being the best version of ourselves facing that mountain, not only do we have a better journey, but it is much more productive all around.

When you do this, you are much more likely to be able to contribute to others on the trail. To those who are slower, you might notice their pace allows them to see things you don’t see and perhaps take better photos. To those who are faster, perhaps their leading the way will alert you to some things you would benefit from.

You be you

To make this real, these traps are everywhere. In our jobs, communities, friend groups and homes. Some assert that it is worse than ever through social networking. How many times have you looked at an online ‘influencer’ or not ‘so much of an influencer’ to draw comparisons as I did on my climb of that Colorado mountain peak? You either think you aren’t good enough or you think you have it together more than the other person.

The bottom line is to be yourself. Be original! Keep up your own pace, develop yourself and follow what is on your heart towards your north star!

‘Be yourself because an original is worth more than just a copy.’

~ Suzy Kassem