Becoming the Mountain

The Mountain of You

Prior to going on the Mt. Shasta trip, I had a conversation with one of my mentor teachers. 

She reminded me that I was in the middle of a transition from being a student, servant, devotee and helper into becoming a visionary leader.

For the visionary leader to step forward, I had to get into touch with my mountain posture. You know the broad shoulder, upright, chest back, stomach in kind of power posture. I could do the posture but I wasn’t fully feeling it. To do something is one thing. To BE it is quite another.  

I mentioned to her that I was planning to go climb Mt. Shasta and she said that might just be perfect!

Climbing the mountain wasn’t even required but as long as I approached the mountain with reverence, I would receive what I needed.

I thought I was going to the mountain for a spiritual purification.

And I received that and much more.

The mountain showed me where I was hoarding and how I could become more kind and generous. 

It showed me where my mind was still judging others and how I needed to assume good intent. 

It showed me how my mind plays ‘trickster’ to keep me attached to the wants and desires of the senses and how I had to stay true to my goal of becoming a self-realized being.

Those were huge realizations and I’m grateful to have the capacity to stay present with and work through these dynamics.

Jesus once said - “In your prayers, remember your father knows what your needs are before you ask him.”

As such, the mountain gave me even more. 

It brought me back in touch with the mountain right inside me.

The mountain of me.

The immovable core that recognizes the truth of our existence and the purpose we’re here to serve.

It was a remembrance that sometimes we have to get outside ourselves to come back into touch with our core.

As I reflect on this experience, I realize that many of us are climbing mountains in our lives.

Career mountains.

Leadership mountains.

Relationship mountains.

Financial mountains.

We spend years striving towards the summit, believing that when we finally arrive, we'll feel complete.

Yet what I've found is that the greatest mountain isn't outside us.

It's within us.

The mountain of our own being.

The steady, grounded presence that remains when the noise, striving and uncertainty settle.

This is also the heart of the work I do through Integral Leadership Coaching.

Not helping people achieve more for achievement's sake.

But helping leaders cultivate the awareness, clarity and commitment necessary to lead from their deepest truth.

To move from reacting to life toward consciously creating it.

To become less driven by fear, doubt and old conditioning and more guided by purpose, presence and authentic expression.

- Nitin