What is Your Mount Everest?

Time Magazine named Sr. Edmund Hillary as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. It’s an understandable distinction because he was indeed a fascinating person who lived fearlessly.

His initial accomplishment that ultimately prompted the honor was being part of the first climbing expedition to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They weren’t the first to try; there had been eight failed attempts before theirs. But they were the first to finish! He went on from there to reach both the North and South Poles. He pushed the limits relentlessly about how far we could go. The highest mountain, the farthest poles!

Here is what he had to say about that first momentous achievement: “It was not the mountain we conquered, but ourselves.” What an incredible and powerful realization! Since that first successful climb, 4,000 people have joined their ranks and made it to that summit. But none before them. That’s a lesson that we cannot ignore.

Each of us, at some point, perhaps even now, faces our own Mount Everest. Each of us will need to conquer our disbelief before we can reach the summit. And I believe that once we do, we empower others to do the same.

What we believe is the most powerful lens in the world. It goes beyond any technology man has ever developed. It filters out, distorts, sharpens, softens, and expands. To understand anything about ourselves and empower our future, it is paramount that we begin the conversation here.

No matter how badly you want something, the probability of you achieving your desire will be equally proportionate to your belief in whether you can achieve it. Desire is not enough. Your belief must be part of the equation.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “It doesn’t matter what you look at. It matters what you see.” Your beliefs create your vision. They determine what you see. What do you believe? Unsure? Think about what you see.

The first question then is what (or who) is distorting, distracting, and even shielding your view? Then you can begin to address how to keep that lens clear and believe in the possibilities.

Here is another truth about beliefs. They are not just a lens. They are a magnet.

What we believe draws us to thoughts, ideas, and even people. The inverse is also true. What we believe attracts thoughts, ideas, and people to us. Sir Hillary did not reach that summit alone!

Where is your Mount Everest? Once you believe you can reach the summit, there is no doubt that you will and take others with you.