24th April 2025
Here’s a quote by Mohammad Ali, I often think about:
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
introspect & ask yourself: Am I blocked by the mountain in my path or the pebble in my shoe?
The mountain is the big, obvious obstacle that stands before you:
> The business you haven’t started.
> The career promotion you haven’t received.
> The health goal you haven’t reached.
> The relationship you haven’t built.
> The freedom you haven’t earned.
It’s easy to blame the mountain for your lack of progress.
The mountain is a visible roadblock, Intimidating & Justifiable.
But what if the mountain is just a distraction – A subtle diversion, pulling your gaze to the horizon, away from the truth right in front of you.
What if the pebble in your shoe is the real reason you’re stuck?
The pebble is the small, silent enemy that holds you back:
> The fixed mindset you maintain
> The bad habit you refuse to break
> The self-limiting story you tell yourself
> The negative people you allow to drain your energy
It’s hard to confront the pebble as the source of your struggle.
A pebble may not seem like a big deal—but walk a mile with it in your shoe and you’ll see & feel the impact of a tiny issue amplified by distance & time.
So, what’s the pebble in your shoe?
> What’s the story you’re holding onto that no longer serves you?
> What mindset or habit is subtly holding you back?
> What relationships no longer create energy in your life?
This isn’t about downplaying your mountain.
This is about recognizing one important truth:
You can’t conquer your mountain until you remove your pebble.
There are mountains–big, serious mountains that are in our way, but we also allow small, avoidable obstacles that cause more trouble than they need to.
I have identified 2 pebbles: Negative energy from others & social media.
When someone around me has negative energy or a bad attitude, it stops me & affects my energy & I am working to overcome that.
I do a lot of my work on my gadgets – the phone & my laptop, but every time I pick it up, the notifications & unread messages catch my attention & I have a strong urge to get on social media, creating a distraction that is hard for me to break away from.
I am learning how to spot the pebbles in my shoes, or the distractions in my life, and how to stop, take them out, and keep going, but I am also learning how to proactively remove them.
To avoid negativity, I have stopped responding to negativity and started to disassociate with people giving negative vibes and energy.
I have started observing No gadget time zones during the day and ‘No gadget areas’ at home, so as to do some serious work or spend quality time with family & friends.
What are the pebbles in your shoes that are distracting you, identify them, then take steps to remove them, climb your mountain & stay blessed forever.