When considering images to illustrate my new life-coaching practice some years back, I settled on the photo of a rock cairn atop St. Mary's Peak in the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana. In that image I see several levels of symbolism that can apply to life's broader journey.
As a cross-country hiker, I have often relied upon the reassurance of rock cairns marking the route across a trackless expanse. On life's journey, I likewise look for signs that I am on the path I have chosen and heading in the direction I want to go. The practices of regular progress monitoring, tracking lessons learned, and planning next steps all provide reassurance along the way.
In the case of St. Mary's and other mountaintops, the summit cairn defines a successful climb. When I see it, I celebrate arriving at my destination. Likewise, in the broader adventure of living, I look for evidence that I have accomplished what I wanted to do. I may have new friends and activities that help fill the gap after losing a loved one. I may wear a smaller size and improved health index numbers with changes in eating and exercise. I may have new skills that expand my satisfaction on the job.
Finally, a rock cairn entails balancing diverse pieces and parts to create a stable and enduring structure. I want to assemble the chunks of my personal experience in building a life that is steady in the storm. In particular, I want to balance the building blocks of habits that help or detract from the life I want to live: habits around health and fitness, reflection and connection, thoughts and feelings.
Like the rock cairn on a mountain peak, our vision of the end we seek can be a powerful draw. The more I browse the photos of Hawaii, the more passionately I look forward to going there this spring. The more deeply I embrace the vision of a fit, strong, and athletic self, the more I am motivated to maintain the patterns that take me there. The same is true with visions of a satisfying career, a stimulating retirement, a mutually supportive life-partnership, or a healthy balance between self-care and nurturing the others who depend on us.
