Perhaps you have heard the idiom, “making a mountain out of a molehill”. This basically refers to the idea that sometimes people can blow things way out of proportion, i.e. thinking a situation is a giant metaphorical mountain when in fact it is no bigger than a molehill.

I have deemed many molehills “mountains” in my life. Sometimes obstacles and situations felt overwhelming as if I could never overcome them, when in hindsight it really wasn’t an insurmountable issue at all. The key was my perception of the situation. If I thought it was a mountain, it was a mountain. If I thought it was a molehill, it was a molehill. As time went on I started to become more aware of which situations were being supersized when they didn’t need to be. Over time I also realized this fascinating thing about perception. If I focused really hard, I could change what used to feel like a mountain into a molehill. No it is not easy, and yes sometimes it takes a strong imagination muscle like I spoke of in my previous blog, but it is possible. Just like if two people look at the same cloud they might see two entirely different shapes, so too can we change our perception of a situation.

This past week I have been out on the West Coast where there are literal mountains. When I was first approached by my sister to join her on this adventure, I hesitated. She’s going to want to climb mountains and I don’t think I can do that… I had only ever climbed molehills in comparison to her mountain climbing experiences. I was afraid I’d hold her back, slow her down, or not have the endurance to make it to the top. Then a thought struck me, who says I am not able to climb a mountain? The answer, no one, but me. I was the only person who was telling me I couldn’t.

And guess what? The other day I climbed a mountain. Sure, it wasn’t a quick sprint to the top, but I made it. The scenery was breathtaking and made each rocky step worth it. The sense of pride and accomplishment I felt was incredible. However, something even more profound happened while I took in the amazing view. Just like I have the ability to change my perception about a situation, I can also change my perception of myself and what I believe myself to be. That knowledge was the true prize.

Although I don’t necessarily want to be known as “a mountain climber,” no longer can I honestly say I am not one. I have the power to reinforce or recreate any element of my being I want to and I think along the way I’ve forgotten that. Sometimes we get so used to who we have been or how things have been to forget that with perception, a little focus, and a whole lot of heart we can learn and grow into anyone we want to be.

I am a writer.

I am open-minded.

I am adventerous.

Who have you been telling yourself you are? Who do you want to be? Because both are true if you let them be. Only you can change mountains into molehills.