So this week, I'll be Writing about What physical activity boosts my confidence, makes me feel happiest And how often i do it
When i saw the weekly prompt, I didn't need to overthink it, The answer was quite simple... MOUNTAIN HIKING!.
And I do it every Saturday, no matter how busy or mentally crowded the week has been. I didn’t choose mountain hiking because it’s trendy or because of photos. I chose it because it’s uncomfortable. And uncomfortable things, as I have learned, have a strange way of telling you the truth about yourself right?
Climbing a mountain tests your patience, your confidence, your determination, and focus. My friends always say "The mountain doesn’t negotiate, It just stands there and waits to see if you’ll quit" and that couldn't be far from the truth.
The first few minutes are always easy. You feel strong. Motivated. Ready to conquer the world. Then your breathing changes. Your legs begins to fail you and doubt ensues. Your mind quietly suggests that maybe today "you shouldnt get to the top"
But i think that’s where the real work begins. For me, hiking is not just physical. it’s also deeply psychological. Every step upward feels like i am having a conversation with myself. “Why am I doing this?” “Can I really keep going?” “Is the top worth it?”
And every Saturday, I answer the same way Yes!!!!.
I hike because it teaches me tolerance. Both physically and mentally. The body was created to want comfort. The mind always wants shortcuts. But the mountain only responds to consistency. One step. Then another. Then another and so it goes.
Gradually, something interesting happens. You start realizing that progress doesn’t come from speed. It comes from refusing to stop.
That lesson has quietly crept into every part of my life, my business, my learning, my discipline, even my patience level. When things get tough, I don’t panic as easily. I’ve been here before. I’ve felt this pressure before. I know what it means to keep moving even when it’s not favorable.
Before i forget, There’s also something symbolic about standing on a mountain. You’re not just above the land, you’re above the noise. All of it. The stress. The rush. The self-doubt.
At the top, everything looks smaller. Problems shrink. Thoughts slow down. You remember that you’re capable of more than you usually give yourself credit for.
And yes, I won’t lie sometimes I’m tired. Sometimes I question my choices halfway up. Sometimes I negotiate with myself like, “Okay, just five more steps, then i go down.” But I always keep going. Because I’ve trained my mind to believe something simple "The top is the only stop"
That mindset is powerful. Hiking has helped build my everyday life in general. It has taught me that It doesn’t mean you never struggle. It means you don’t turn struggle into surrender.
Hiking has become my weekly default. It reminds me that effort builds endurance. That discomfort builds confidence. That showing up builds selftrust. So anytime i am exhausted from working throughout the week, when life gets confusing, when goals feel unrealistic, I just know Saturday is coming. And with it, another chance to prove to myself that I can climb, even when it’s hard.
Images are mine