Staring at a Mountain Wondering How You’ll Make It? Here's How to Keep Moving Forward.

A few weeks ago, I shared my story of standing at the base of a steep, rocky pass on the Sierra High Route with my Live Boldly with Sara Podcast listeners. That moment of uncertainty felt overwhelming, like many challenges we face in life. It reminded me how easy it is to feel stuck when you’re facing something daunting head-on—whether it’s a personal goal, a business hurdle, or just figuring out the next step. 

But here’s the truth: challenges don’t disappear, they evolve—and so do we.

Since that climb, I’ve been reflecting on something deeper: we often think success is about finding the smooth path, but really, it’s about trusting ourselves to walk the rugged one. According to research by the University of Scranton, 92% of people don’t achieve their goals because they either get overwhelmed by the enormity of the task or simply give up too soon. That’s why the first step is always the hardest—it forces us to confront our fears and doubts head-on.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Once we start moving, everything begins to shift. What seemed impossible from a distance starts to feel more manageable. The fog clears, and the path forward becomes visible.

So, if you’re still standing at the bottom of your mountain, here’s how I suggest you keep moving forward:

• Reconnect with your “why.” Why does this challenge matter to you? When I was standing at that pass, I wasn’t just climbing for the sake of it. I was proving something to myself—that I’m capable of more than I think. Having a strong “why” grounds you and fuels you to keep going when things get tough.
• Break it down into small wins. Big challenges feel impossible because we focus on the entire journey instead of the next step. Instead of worrying about the summit, focus on getting to the next ledge. It’s the accumulation of small victories that leads to big results.
• Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Too often, we overlook the strides we’ve made because we’re fixated on the final destination. Take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. The progress you’ve already made is proof that you’re capable of more.
• Trust yourself to figure it out. I didn’t have a perfect map when I started climbing that pass, but I trusted myself to navigate it as I went. You don’t need to have all the answers right now. You just need to trust that you’ll find them along the way. Sometimes, clarity comes after you take action.

This isn’t just about hiking or reaching a summit—it’s about life. Every day, we’re faced with decisions, big and small, that shape our path forward. Did you know we make an average of 35,000 decisions a day? (Source: Psychology Today). Some are insignificant, but others determine whether we stay stuck or move toward our goals. Use some of those decisions to move closer to your problem. As you do, you’ll find that the closer you get, the clearer the solution becomes.

So, here’s to standing at the bottom of life’s mountains and deciding to climb anyway. Here’s to trusting ourselves, embracing the messy path, and moving forward—step by step. No matter how steep or rocky the terrain ahead, remember: you’ve climbed before, and you can do it again.

Keep going. The summit is always closer than it seems! 

If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, please do! Also, it would mean the world to me if you left me a review!

Looking for a motivating speaker to boldly move forward in your organization or business? 

Choose from one of these topics:

• Descend to Ascend: Navigating the Corporate Landscape with Resilience, Leadership, and Vision 
• Walk Through Leadership Building High-Performing Teams That Make Bold Moves Together 

• Walk Through This* Unlocking Resilience and Growth in the Face of Change 

*Based on Sara’s bestselling book, Walk Through This.

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Have a beautiful day!

xo

Sara