Who are you competing with?

My dad was always very fit.

He loved walking outdoors, exercising and in his later years, mountaineering.

He climbed some of the highest peaks in India and Africa, an experience I’ve always wanted to try.

In some of the climbs, he was one of the only ones in his group who made it to the peak, the others dropping out at a lower camp due to exhaustion.

I asked him how he managed it, especially knowing that the majority had stopped, so it would be no shame in not reaching the peak.

He told us that the thought of stopping never entered his mind.

After all, he set out to reach the peak so that is what he would try his best to do, regardless of what others decided.

And he beat the pain and exhaustion by repeating a mantra in his head over and over again, some days for hours on end.

The ritual helped him continue putting one step ahead of the other until he reached the peak, achieving his goal.

I love that story because it shows the power of framing. My dad decided to compete with himself and not to follow the crowd or general perception. This enabled him to develop ways to cope with the pain and exhaustion.

It’s a life lesson I’ll never forget.

3 Prompts for Today

1 - Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. Were you measuring your success against others or against your own potential? How did that mindset affect your performance and motivation?

2 - Reflect on a time when you pushed yourself beyond what you thought was possible. What motivated you? What lessons did you take away from that experience?

3 - Have you ever stopped pursuing something because others around you quit or deemed it ‘too difficult’? What would have changed if you had kept going, purely for yourself?

Get the most out of your journalling:

• Choose one prompt: Focus on just one prompt each day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Be brutally honest: Reflect openly and honestly. This is your safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

• Take your time: Sometimes it takes a few days to clarify your thinking. Here’s permission for you to take your time to unravel a prompt and not take on any new ones during that time.

• Journal your way: Whether you prefer writing, audio recording, or video, choose the method that suits you best.

• Don't stress about streaks: If you miss a day, don't worry. You can always revisit a previous prompt.

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!