Succeed by putting Success in Perspective
For many people, success is like the proverbial carrot on a stick, or like the tail to a chasing dog – it is something that we instinctively chase, but never quite seem to catch. In truth, this philosophy renders the pursuit of success a recipe for failure. When we put success in perspective and realize that achievement is defined by ourselves and not by others, we can not only succeed, but we can gain peace and contentment.
In August 2015 I travelled to Arequipa, Peru. I then made the long trip north towards Cusco, from where I travelled by train down the Rio Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. The final destination was of course the amazing Inca site at Machu Picchu. Visitors to the world famous site have a number of choices regarding how they will spend the 6 or 7 hours they have on site. Most people simply potter around the ruins. Others trek towards the sun gate. Some visit the Moon Temple and climb Huayna Picchu, which is the sugar loaf mountain that provides the backdrop for the iconic Machu Picchu photographs. We chose the Machu Picchu Mountain option, which involves climbing over 2,500 stone steps to an overall altitude of 10,111 feet, which overlooks the entire site.
The view over Machu Picchu from half way up the steps of Machu Picchu Mountain
The climb is quite challenging; for although it is stepped all the way, and does not exceed forty five degrees in gradient, it does involve constant climbing and is a real endurance test given the semi-jungle landscape and the effects of such exertion at altitude. Unlike a mountain climb where you are generally on your own or in a small group, several hundred people climb the steps at the same time, so even stopping to draw breath is difficult as you would be holding up those behind you. At a couple of spots where there are openings in the thick vegetation, there is the oppurtunity to step aside to have a snack and admire the views; but it is generally a fairly constant two and a half hour slog up the uneven steps.
Having passed through a stone arched gateway, the approach to the summit becomes narrowed and gradually steeper. Eventually the path rounds several large boulders, and seemingly comes to an abrupt end on a narrow ledge which acts as a balcony from where the visitor is not only treated to an astounding view of the lost city, but of the valleys and mountain peaks of the extended Andes region. It is completely breathtaking. Like most people who climb Machu Picchu Mountain, I paused in amazement as I took in the memorizing panorama.
And then my old acquaintance came back to haunt me…
My trip to South America had been a bolt from the blue. Or more to the point, a bolt from the black. A year previously, I had taken a heavy tumble from a bike, and had been through nerve pain, concussion and was at the time suffering from heightened levels of anxiety. It was all manageable with medication, but it all still had limits. The ledge is approximately 50 feet in length and perhaps only 4 feet wide. At the far side of the ledge, a rough flight of steps with no handrail points towards the sky. These steps must be scaled to reach the top of the mountain. The longer I rested up on that ledge, the more I realized that the steps were a bridge too far for me at that particular time.
Once I had started to realize that the steep flight of steps were more than I could handle, I was crestfallen. Feelings of failure emerged. I knew I had an issue with the steps, and the more I tried to coax myself onwards by forcing myself to face them, the more my anxiety grew. In fact, the anxiety was growing to the point where even remaining on the ledge was becoming problematic. I told my climbing partner that I was going no further; that I would stay here while they went ahead to the summit. They tried to encourage me, but it was pointless – I had reached my summit. Eventually they went ahead, and I sat on a rock at the opposite side of the ledge from the steps. Instead of admiring the view, my eyes were transfixed on those steps, and I was feeling very sorry for myself. And that is where and when things started to change…
While sitting on a ledge above Machu Picchu, I realized that I could define my own summit, and enjoy the view
While sitting on that ledge feeling sorry for myself, I stared out forlornly over the view. And then it hit me. Why on earth was I sad, when I was so lucky to be in this beautiful location? It was only then that I really started to fully appreciate the view. Until then, it was simply a stop along the way to something else, instead of being a beautiful place in its own right. I started to realize that the only reason that I had been sad was because I would not be going to the top of the mountain. But this was someone else’s goal; someone else’s idea of success. As it turned out, the summit wasn’t much higher, and if anything, I was to spend the next hour or so in a much more enjoyable place than the overcrowded peak just beyond those steps. And the calm feeling I experienced up provided the inspiration to start writing about the whole experience. For me, by putting success in perspective, just getting to that ledge was already an incredible achievement. By appreciating the views and the tranquility on that ledge, I realized that what I had thought was a failure was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave me the time, space and perspective to appreciate just how far I had come.
The road up the mountain from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
I had overcome a fear of flying to cross the Atlantic to New York, and leave there on an even longer flight to Lima, where I connected to yet another flight to Arequipa. (Thanks must go to Alison Clarke of Fearless Flying for helping me to get onboard those planes). From Arequipa, the journey to Cusco had involved a 23 hour bus trip and getting snowbound overnight on a volcano at just over 14,000 feet. Even the bus ride up the treacherously steep dirt road from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu had been a case of challenging my anxiety. And now, here I was, a further 2000 feet further up the mountain, overlooking not just the citadel of Machu Picchu, but the surrounding mountain peaks. I was perched on perhaps the best viewing point in the Andes, at 10, 100 feet. Not bad for someone who had spent the previous months suffering from anxiety, and a fear of flying and heights.
After stopping to put perspective into how far I had already come, all anxiety left me and I enjoyed my time on the ledge
Instead of looking at the short distance to the summit with a feeling of failure, I looked at the 10,000 kilometers I had already scaled with a feeling of satisfaction and success. Finding this perspective, not only brought about a beautiful feeling of awareness up on that ledge, but it changed the outcome of the day, the remainder of my South American odyssey and in many ways it also changed my life. Had I stayed with the feeling of failure, I would have been in sullen mood for the rest of the trip. But by marking my own summit, and labelling it as a success, I came down the mountain in a much better place emotionally.
Sometimes we have goals, which are unachievable. We only set these goals because we are matching what others are aiming for. While success and goal setting are admirable pursuits, if we set a goal based on someone else’s dream or ability, and we fail to achieve it, then we are only making ourselves feel inadequate and ultimately unhappy. We need to set our own goals. We need to measure our own success. Success comes from the realization of our own goals, not from recognition from others if we match their goals. I now use this philosophy in each and every aspect of my life, and I am much more in tune with the achievements of what I can do, rather than the fear of disappointment at what I cannot do. In fact, I don’t see any activity in my life as a failure now. By putting success in perspective, I can always find an echo of success in what other people would consider to be a failure.
The whole experience made me look at things differently. Im pretty sure that if I had made it to the top of that mountain, that my ego and pride would have ratcheted up a notch, and I would have subconsciously set myself an even higher target as a measure of how successful I would be if I scaled an even higher peak. I am now grateful that I did not make it. I am grateful that I felt that disappointment and feeling of failure, because I got to challenge it and discover that putting success in perspective is much more rewarding than constantly elevating my expectations to what others would deem to be successful.
On a ledge over 10,000 feet up in the Andes, peering out over Machu Picchu