Whose Mountain Are You Climbing? Exploring Succeeding vs. Thriving

Host Dana Tenille Weekes asks a profound question she believes every person must answer truthfully to reclaim their right to rest: “Whose mountain are you climbing?” 

This episode of The Rest of Us podcast distinguishes between succeeding and thriving and reveals how succeeding keeps us mountaineering for others. Dana ends the episode by prompting listeners to envision their mountaintop through a reflection exercise in which we name and embrace how we want to navigate this world to thrive instead of succeed.   

What You’ll Settle Into

• How succeeding calls for you to live for others, and thriving calls for you to live for yourself. You are climbing your own mountain instead of others.
• Five types of encounters that contributed to Dana’s unrest in her life and redirected her to climbing other people’s mountains: (1) Dream Decision-Makers; (2) Breadcrumbers; (3) Well-Intentioned Fearfuls; and (5) Inner Narrator (that isn’t your voice).

Key Quotes & Insights

“In people’s minds, I was succeeding, but behind the scenes (in my own damn home), your girl felt empty. I knew this was not what success was supposed to feel like. My storyline needed to be better.” 

Succeeding is achieving metrics that other people and society deem worthy. You believe in these metrics so much that they unconsciously reshape your dreams and priorities. 

Thriving is about your North Star and the metrics you live by that honor your inner voice that guides you towards joy, your wildest dreams, and simply being. 

LENGTH: 34 minutes