The Beach, The Mountains, and the Swamp

Life as a Landscape

In order to move forward, you have to know where you’re starting from. Throughout your life, you’ll find yourself in one of three regions: The Beach, the Mountains, or the Swamp. You’ll travel through these regions multiple times. As you read the descriptions below, consider which region best describes your current situation.

The Swamp

People in the swamp are slogging through life. They dislike their day-to-day, but can’t seem to alter it. They feel stuck.

If you’re in the swamp (and it’s easy to tell if you are―don’t deny it), you must get out as quickly as possible. The swamp is a place of consistent unhappiness. It’s important to realize that you won’t somehow become happy without making drastic changes. Your subpar relationship will not suddenly become perfect. The boss you hate will not suddenly become fun to work with. Your mundane daily routine will not suddenly become exciting. Regardless of what you think you’re working towards, you should jump ship. Given that you’re currently unsatisfied with your surroundings, you must enter the mountains―for at least a little while, before heading to the beach.

The Mountains

If you’re in the mountains, you’re looking for excitement and happiness. You can climb incredibly high, but it takes persistence. It’s also dangerous―you could stumble and fall at any moment. On many occasions, you’ll wish you had never started climbing, but then you’ll finally reach a new peak and thank yourself for toughing it out. It’s scary and difficult, but rewarding.

In the mountains, you’re fighting for a better life [1]. While it can be stressful, it’s the only way to gain control over your happiness if you don’t already feel satisfied. Being in the mountains takes courage [2].

The Beach

If you’re at the beach, you’re content. The beach is wide open. It’s flat. Everything seems a little more simple and carefree. If you’re in this region, you’ve probably already traveled through the mountains and the swamp. Some people find themselves at the beach and never venture out of it. I sometimes envy these people. But then I remember that the beach―while relaxing and beautiful―can also be painfully boring.

If you’re at the beach and you love it, congratulations. You should be proud of the fact that you’ve found bliss. Just remember that happiness is a state of mind and not a final destination. You should constantly ask yourself whether you’re as happy today as you were yesterday. If your happiness is slipping, you may want to venture off to the mountains for a while.

A Final Thought on Boundaries

All three regions can be viewed in relation to boundaries. Beach residents are content with their boundaries, mountain residents are constantly challenging their boundaries, and swamp residents are discontent with their boundaries, but do nothing to overcome them. We always face boundaries. Happiness is achieved through the acceptance of (not the surrender to) existing boundaries, or by continuously removing existing boundaries to uncover the next set.

Doing nothing to remove undesirable boundaries is the only fatal decision. Yet, surprisingly, many of us live our lives this way. The swamp is synonymous with ZombieLand. You can’t grow from a swamp. If you’re in this region, you must find your way out. Be brave and confront your boundaries. The struggle―while sometimes scary―is worth it.

Notes

[1] Remember that a better life means different things for different people. Be sure to define better life in relation to you specifically before chasing after it.

[2] It’s worth noting that it’s possible, even common, to stay in the mountains forever and find happiness without ever experiencing the relaxation and bliss of the beach. Some people need the constant struggle to feel alive, and that’s perfectly fine. So far, I’m this way. Maybe I’ll settle at the beach eventually. But for now, I’m a climber.

This post is an excerpt from The Connection Algorithm, my new book about taking risks, which hit #1 in the Entrepreneurship and Personal Success categories on Amazon a few days after it launched.

More About Me: http://www.jtev.me