I went on a BIG hike with a friend.

I knew it was going to be challenging...

But then when I was actually in it...

Climbing over boulders, in the heat, with a heavy backpack on...

There came a point where I felt like my energy was gone.

I couldn't do it anymore.

My leg muscles were trembling without control.

I felt half-dead, no energy left at all - yet there were still some huge uphills ahead.

I didn't know if I was going to make it.

Seriously.

I was wondering about turning back but to be honest, I wasn't sure how my wobbly legs were even going to get me back to the car!

My friend was trying to find a way to encourage me to keep going.

He had recently been watching a Japanese series set in the days where the women wore kimonos and had bound feet.

He suddenly said, "You know, the Japanese women had to take these tiny little steps and they couldn't raise their feet high - but they still moved. Let's try that.".  

So, almost as a joke at first, we started to take tiny steps without lifting our feet high.

And we quite quickly realised that it used a lot less energy, so we carried on.

Up and up and up those slopes...

Each time I looked up and wanted to cry at the overwhelm of what lay ahead, I looked back down and focused on just taking those tiny little steps.

And we did make it.

I can't say I loved the experience, but I made it.

Because of those tiny little steps.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed in any part of your life right now...

Just take tiny steps.

Be kind to yourself.

Cry when you need, rest a while, and then just focus on the tiny steps.

You'll get there.

PS. If food and eating is where you feel overwhelmed and unhappy - do yourself a favour and take the 5-day Journey of Learning to Eat With Kindness.

It's loving encouragement to help on your journey with food and eating.

Find out more HERE

If you loved yourself, what would you say to yourself now about your personal mountain?