One of my top sayings is “mountains lie.” They do! The mountains we face want to overwhelm us. But you can conquer any mountain, if you take time, seek wisdom, and put forth the effort.
Now, after saying this, I want to add that many of you have faced mountains that are extreme—Covid, cancer, money issues or other things. Take a step back and breath.
Christopher Reeve played Superman in the movies but a serious accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. It was then that he had to become a different kind of Superman in order to live and inspire others. This is exactly what he did.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair and needing a respirator, he became heavily involved in campaigns that supported handicap children and paraplegics. He testifying before a Senate subcommittee in favor of federal funding for stem cell research.
Christopher worked to overcome extreme physical limitations, even undergoing an experimental operation to enable him to breathe for hours without use of his respirator. So, what did he have to say about heroes and those who succeed against extreme odds?
What is Success? What is a Hero?
He said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
Christopher Reeve was a hero, and you and I have the same ability. But you have to decide if success in your life is a noun or a verb. Is it something you simply tag without emotion or something you live out each day?
I just returned from Ecuador where I climbed one of the tallest mountains. This climb was unlike any I had faced. From day one, it was difficult. There was little time for rest, eating, and drinking water.
It was a relentless climb, and I was last to summit. The mountain humbled me, but I learned something very important and that is: I did it. I reached deep inside and went to the top!
Coming down was almost harder. My confidence took a hit; I have been climbing for over 16 years! It’s something I do to raise awareness for charities and to motivate women—young and older—to believe they can achieve their goals in life—no matter what the obstacle is.
Is success for me a noun or a verb? Is it a subject or is it active and moving and growing and going forward? What is success to you?
Let Your Mountain Humble You
Maybe you feel like you have hit the top in your business, and you wonder if there is anything beyond this moment. Or maybe you have faced what seems to be a failure! Not! You are not a failure. You wonder if there is something more in life? You feel humbled and—as some of my clients have confessed—defeated.
Success is not a moment in time. It involves a series of steps that gets you to the top of the mountain, but you never hang out there. You look for another peak as you look forward to another climb. You learn to stay focused on what gets you to the top.
For you, the summit may be to begin a savings program or it could be to better organize your company. Getting to the top of any mountain can be difficult. In fact, smaller peaks, in many cases, are tougher because we usually under estimate their value and difficulty.
“Misfortune can force you into doing things you should be doing anyway,” wrote Christopher. “Remember lessons come from adversity. Anything can happen to anyone. You can find a new lease on life—more meaning than you thought possible in simple things. Let go! Live in the moment. Go forward.”
There are 3 things you need to know:
• Mountains can and do humble you. But through adversity, you grow stronger, surer, and wiser. Being humbled by mountains actually can protect you and give you more reasons to be grateful. Climb mountains—often!
• Protect your confidence with truth. Don’t believe the lies of any mountain that whisper or shout: “You can’t” because you can, and you will! Go forward with confidence!
• Success is temporary. Sorry, but it is. The things we strive to achieve in life are fleeting. Set an equation around yourself that’s right for you. Do the things in life that add value and meaning!
Here’s a hint: put your loved ones first and success and financial security will follow quickly! Tracking your portfolio daily doesn’t lead anywhere except to a dead end emotionally!
For my Perfect Day followers, you know how to turn an imperfect day into one that is perfect! That includes doing these four things before 11 am each day:
Work on your Core: Keep yours strong in 2021! This includes your values, relationships, and spirituality.
Experience Life: Set aside time to enjoy life. Laugh, talk with a friend, who may be miles away. Celebrate life. That’s experience!
Your Contributions: Give, give, give! Find a way to give yourself away. Give your support, encouragement, and praise to others. You will be surprised how giving changes you inside and out.
Your Finances: This is tough for many right now. Save smart, invest smart, and plan for the future. Talk with an adviser. I can help you get a plan in place—for now and for the future. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation, and let’s get started.
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You can set up a one-on-one consultation with me for free. I’ll prove to you that mountains lie, and humility leads to even more gratitude and success!
About The Author: Cokie Berenyi
Cokie Berenyi has been in financial services and serving the needs of individual and institutional clients and entrepreneurs since 1996. Mother, author, business owner, financial “samurai” and Perfect Day engineer, Cokie loves food, wine, travel, stray dogs, goat cheese, tennis, and alpine mountaineering.
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