The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. —Confucius

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." —Confucius

I’ve not heard this specific quote before but I have heard the following…

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

The idea behind these words are simple and reassuring. Do you have a goal? Is there a challenge you are facing? Does life feel like its piling on top of you? It’s not about conquering the mountain or eating the elephant… it’s about the stones or the bites. Take it all in small stages. Focus on one moment or action at a time. You can conquer anything in your way… even if you are in some way your own barrier. I know I get in my way all the time… But it’s the small progress that suddenly gets me over the mountain. And let me tell you, when you accomplish your goal or break through that barrier, you will realize that elephant tastes amazing and those small stones were actually diamonds.

Sarah Deats
Sarah Deats is a Behavioral Health Technician at RI International and the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer