You Think You Want The Victory.... But What You Truly Want is The Montage.
Training to summit an 18,500ft mountain is teaching me the truth about every movie montage ever made.
Something fundamentally shifted inside of me when I signed up to hike Pico de Orizaba a few weeks ago.
It was gradual and subtle at first. Nothing I could quite put my finger on.
I just felt… a bit “better” each day.
And now three weeks into my training, I finally have some language to wrap around what I’ve been experiencing.
Training to summit the tallest mountain in Mexico is teaching me how to detach from outcomes and fall in love with the process on the deepest level.
It’s beyond just enjoying the journey.
It’s becoming the journey.
The myth of the “movie montage”: why we’ve got it all wrong.
You know that classic “transformation montage” in movies—
Rocky running through the streets of New York.
Mulan training for combat with the Huns.
Elle Woods running practice questions for the LSAT.
The sequence where the main character is putting in the reps, repeatedly falling down and getting back up. The part of the movie where they become who they need to be to achieve their goal.
In the movies, the transformation montage is romanticized as this cute little moment in time: 3 minutes long, set to a vibey song. It’s portrayed as a short period of dedication on the way to the victory (aka the main event).
And while we enjoy watching the montage, most of us are more excited about the final result.
Winning the fight. Getting into Harvard. Reaching the summit.
But, as I’m training for Pico, what I’m realizing is… the montage is actually the best part.
The montage IS the main event. The montage is where life happens.
The secret to detaching without disengaging
When I first signed up for the hike, my friend asked me
“What are you most excited about?”
I thought about it for a moment and my answer actually surprised me.
I realized… it’s the training.
I’m most excited for the training.
I’m excited
to go on hikes every weekend exploring different parts of Mexico
to start running further and further distances
to work towards a big goal with new friends.
What excited me most about hiking Pico de Orizaba, wasn’t the moment of personal triumph I would experience at the summit. It was who I would become in the process.
The message that keeps coming up for me
It’s so interesting, because this mindset mirrors a message that keeps coming up for me over and over again in books, youtube videos and podcasts about high performance.
The message is: detach from the outcomes and attach to your effort.
Attach to the process.
Attach to the becoming.
Attach to the way you show up.
But initially, when I heard this, I had a hard time understanding HOW to do actually do it.
How can you be detached from the goal and still care enough to give it your best?
Essentially I wondered, how can you practice detachment without disengagement?
Now, I’m realizing there is an interesting nuance here.
In order to activate the “transformation of becoming” you DO have to create an attachment to the outcome.
Because the transformation montage can’t begin until you’ve reached this point of true unwavering commitment to a goal.
You need to have a goal that sparks something within you.
But this is where the nuance comes in
It’s actually not about attaching to the goal itself…. it’s about attaching to who you need to become to reach the goal.
The activating force needed for transformation…
When I signed up to do the hike, I was suddenly confronted with all of the ways I would need to grow (if I actually wanted to reach the summit).
Instinctively I started asking myself:
What is it really going to take to reach the top?
Who do I need to become to hike this mountain?
Where do I need to level up?
In my mindset. In my nutrition. In my ability to handle physical discomfort. In my cardiovascular fitness. In my strength. In my gear and clothing.
From the beginning, I’ve been approaching this goal with a single minded determination.
I’m not wondering if it’s possible. I’m figuring out HOW I can make it happen.
How can I become the person who summits this mountain?
Having this unwavering commitment to leveling up, created an activating force that started propelling me into a new dimension of growth.
I’m clear. I’m focused. I’m committed.
What growth really feels like in the messy middle
I’m noticing exactly how uncomfortable the process of growth is.
Growth feels like being disappointed in yourself but then recommitting anyways.
Growth feels like sore muscles.
Growth feels like questioning everything.
Growth feels like wanting to cry in frustration.
But as long as I am willing to remain present, focused, and determined in the discomfort- I grow.
I’m witnessing myself in real time rise up to meet a goal.
I see my dedication.
Scheduling time every weekend to tackle increasingly high volcanos.
Waking up at 4am on Saturdays to drive out to the mountains and hike.
Learning how to tune into my body to keep going- even when my mind wants to give up.
Running consistently during the week- even when I’m huffing and puffing.
Going to a hot pilates class and breathing through the urge to escape.
Reading books about the inner game of high performance athletes.
I’m building self trust through my actions
Through the way I am consistently showing up for training
Through the way I am gently pushing myself to expand beyond my limits
And I’m seeing the progress. As I run for longer and longer distances. As I summit a 14,000ft then a 15,000ft volcano.
It’s like I’m watching myself transform before my very eyes.
Life IS your montage… when are you going to start living it?
In these past 3 weeks since I’ve started training… I’ve felt myself come alive in a whole new way.
I’ve had more moments of electric joy and gratitude.
I’ve felt high on life (and maybe lack of oxygen).
I’ve felt proud of myself.
I’ve felt excitement.
I’m so content with the day in and day out grind of preparing myself for the hike.
I’m obviously looking forward to that moment at the summit.
When I make it to the top and feel the culmination of my weeks of work.
And at the same time… I already feel like I am living the reward.
It’s hard to imagine that there is something I could feel at summit- that is as electric as I feel right now.
In the process. In the becoming. In the montage.
And that’s the thing about becoming the montage: You’re not holding your breath waiting for a final moment of victory You’re not relying on something outside of you to validate your efforts.
You’re finding joy inside the reps. Inside the sweat. Inside the transformation itself.
You’re not “powering through” the montage on the way to the final scene. You are realizing this IS the scene. Right here. Right now.
In the messiness.In the becoming.
Life is happening right now inside your montage.. so when are you going to start living it.
Hello,
Just a note to comment on your incredible achievement...., congratulations on such an impressive accomplishment! I love how you gave credit to your steps and your efforts that you successfully “showed up” for ...... it helped me realize that they can be as life changing as reaching the goal! 😎👍