LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM MY CHILDREN

MEET THY MOUNTAIN

I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.

-       Nelson Mandela

My son and I were cycling up a hill. He had just learnt to ride his bike and he was now riding his bike with confidence. He seemed to enjoy thinking, his mind constantly contemplating whatever task he was doing or about to do. Yet he also had learnt that in spite of all the thinking and planning, there was still uncertainty as to whether the outcome would be good or bad. He, therefore, depending on the challenge he faced, could choose to get completely exhilarated or be filled with absolute fear.

So there we were cycling up a hill. He naturally stood up on the bike pedals to create the force needed to propel the bike up the hill. The energy he utilized to get up the hill was just right: he was not fixated on getting up the hill too fast allowing him to take in the surrounding scenery. Neither was it too slow, which would have resulted in him struggling to get to the top. He was in balance enjoying the surroundings as well around him as well focused enough to get to the top. He was expending the optimal amount of energy to achieve the task. He was in rhythm and in flow. He was meeting his mountain.

In life, we face daily ‘mountains’ that are the various obstacles and challenges we experience. Some, we are able to overcome without a second thought. Many, stop us in our tracks and we have no idea how to tackle them. Sometimes they seem to last forever and no matter what we do they are insurmountable. We may decide to avoid and go around them. At other times, there seems no way around as the mountain range seems to just go on forever. Later, it seems that very same mountain range was minuscule in comparison to the mountains we face today.

This life we live, throws us the most powerful of challenges that seem to overwhelm us. Regardless of age, strength, power, position or prestige, none can say we can overcome whatever mountain life throws at us. They may make or break us, grow or destroy us. We may rise over them or be overwhelmed and forever be in their shadow.

As adults the challenges we face define who we are. They define our growth physically, mentally and emotionally. We see them as blocking further endeavours. It is far too tough and painful to climb these mountains. We begin to believe that we cannot progress or grow further. It is hard work and we start to question why we must. We perceive it as a futile exercise. Gradually, these mountains define the limits of our world and what we can achieve. We settle and live in the shadow of what we define us, the various mountains surrounding us. Not as beautiful scenery but serving as the limits to what we can see. They become our walls and boundaries to growth. We know no other world than the valley between our mountains.

Fascinatingly, we may get angry with all those who may challenge our walls and boundaries. We see them as a threat. Why? We see the mountains as safe and protective. ‘Who cares what lies beyond?’ we may endeavour to justify. Stick with the known, rather than experiencing the pain and hardship of discovering the unknown. We may even go to the extreme of fighting to protect that which holds us back. Many wars that we humans have fought have been to protect an old social order that had long...