Gaze from a Hiking Summit Perspective
Sitting here on the summit after my first hike of the year, I feel quiet inside. The view is stunning. Hills roll into the distance. The air tastes clean. But as I take in all the beauty, my mind drifts below the surface, to what holds this mountain together.
It is easy to admire the view. We marvel at the peaks, the open skies, the stillness of it all. But beneath my feet are layers of pressure, movement, and heat. Shifting tectonic plates. Molten earth. The unseen power that shaped this very path. It reminds me of the deeper work in our own lives. The work no one sees.
Just like the mountain, we are shaped by forces moving under the surface. Slow, silent, persistent. The late nights spent trying again. The inner battles no one claps for. The growth that happens in solitude. These are the things that build our foundation. Not the applause. Not the highlight reel.
The real transformation is often invisible. You may not notice it day by day, but it is happening. You are becoming.
We live in a world that celebrates the summit photo, but not the climb. That praises the final form, but not the messy middle. It can be tempting to rush the process or doubt your progress when things feel slow. But greatness never grows in plain sight. It takes shape underground, in stillness, in quiet decisions, in the small steps we take when no one is watching.
So take your time. Do your shadow work. Trust the slow burn. Say no to the quick high of being seen and say yes to the quiet weight of becoming.
Progress is not always loud. But it is always worth it.
Whether you are hiking your own trail or just trying to make it through the week, trust what is taking root. Keep going. Keep digging. Keep tending to the work no one else sees. One day, it will show. One day, it will hold weight.
The underground effect is real. And you are living proof of it.
Have a good week ahead. And when in doubt, look down, then look within. That’s where the real strength lies.
