What if the obstacles in your life weren’t roadblocks but invitations? What if your struggles weren’t signs of failure, but opportunities to grow? This might sound like a romantic idea especially if you are in the thick of it, but I am learning that the thick of it is exactly where the deep work happens (and besides, it doesn’t seem like we’re gonna get a break any time soon, does it! )

My conversation with Jesse Cody this week reminds me that transformation isn’t found in a single moment of jubilant revelation but is earned, step by step, by step, through perseverance and self-discovery. And that this transformation is possible even in the most treacherous times of our lives (not in spite of, but perhaps because of).

Struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, Jesse journeyed along the Appalachian Trail, all 2,200 miles, learning that in enduring the trail, he could also endure and overcome his sense of desperation and despair.

One moment, in particular, stood out for me. When Jess, exhausted, climbing a brutal mountain in the heat, begged nature for relief. Instead, he was met with a rattlesnake—a reminder that growth doesn’t come from ease, but from challenge. But what I found even more powerful? The rattlesnake is symbolic, it is known to shed its skin and thus represents transformation, letting go of the old to make way for the new, symbolizing personal growth and renewal. Mother nature was literally giving him a sign!

So, how can we use Jesse’s journey as a lesson in our own lives? Here are my personal takeaways:

1. You Have to Take the First Step. Change doesn’t happen by accident. Jesse chose to embark on his hike, to face the unknown, and to move forward despite uncertainty. What is one action—however small—you can take today toward something that matters to you?

2. Challenges Are Your Greatest Teachers. The struggles we wish away are often the very experiences that shape us. Instead of resisting hardship, ask: What is this moment trying to teach me? How can you lean into discomfort rather than retreat from it?

3. Healing Is an Ongoing Process. Mental well-being, like physical fitness, requires regular practice. Jesse didn’t just hike his way into health—he continued therapy, opened up to loved ones, and committed to staying engaged in his growth. What daily habit can you integrate to nourish your mind and body?

Your journey may not involve hiking thousands of miles, but the principles remain the same. Resilience is built through action, self-awareness, and the willingness to keep going—even when it’s hard.

So, I’ll leave you with this: What mountain are you climbing? And how will you keep moving forward? I hold these questions close to heart these days as I navigate my personal, professional, as well as our communal lives. I hope you will too! You can hear the full conversation here.

Sending you much love!