My Key Takeaways from the Book The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest

This is Mt. Matutum from afar. If you’re in South Cotabato, you’ll likely see this mountain, as it is the highest point in the province, standing at 7,500 feet above sea level. Every time I see Mt. Matutum, I always wonder: What can we see at the top of this mountain? If it wasn’t blocking my view, what would I see instead?

 

That’s why a mountain is often used as a metaphor for a hurdle—something that stands in the way of your goal, a challenge, or even a giant that might crush you the moment you approach it. When I came across the book The Mountain Is You, I immediately felt it was something deep and psychological—just judging from the title alone (though we’re told not to judge a book by its cover). I felt drawn to read it because something in me said I needed it.

 
It was during our Visayas tour that I spotted the book The Mountain Is You from one of our travel companions. I was reading a different book at the time, but I felt the urge to borrow hers. I thought I could use some of our idle moments while traveling to read it and return it before the trip ended. I had come across the book before, but now that I finally had the chance to read it, I knew there were valuable insights waiting for me.

 

And now, I’m sharing with you the key takeaways I gained from reading this book.

 
The book talks about self-sabotage. It was my first time encountering the term, but according to Brianna, anything you do that has negative repercussions on your mental and emotional well-being is considered self-sabotage. If you’re familiar with negative self-talk, procrastination, fears, unresolved trauma, and the like—those are all forms of self-sabotage. These are things we do to ourselves that hinder us from becoming the best version of who we are.

Here are the key insights I learned from this book:

 
1. We need to identify our own mountains

As I mentioned earlier, a mountain is a metaphor for the hurdles we face in life. This is highly subjective because we all have different struggles. The only person who can truly identify your mountain is you.

 

So what’s blocking you from your goals, your happiness, or your success? List them down—your limiting beliefs, self-doubts, past traumas, fears—anything that feels like a barrier to your full potential. These are your mountains.

 

If you're having trouble identifying them, ask yourself:

• What recurring issues do I keep facing?
• What fears and doubts keep holding me back?
• What beliefs do I have about myself or my abilities that limit me?

Asking yourself these kinds of questions is a form of self-assessment. And you may be surprised—once you list your answers, your personal mountains become clear.

 
2. We need to understand the root causes

These mountains didn’t just appear out of nowhere. There's a reason they exist—and more often than not, they stem from deep psychological issues developed in the past.

Think about your self-esteem issues, fear of failure (or even success), and unresolved childhood traumas. These are often the root causes.

Understanding these roots helps us address self-sabotage. Just like an enemy, you need to know where it’s coming from to defeat it. Many of these beliefs were shaped during childhood and still influence us today. If they are holding us back from becoming better versions of ourselves, then they are self-sabotaging beliefs we need to let go of.

 
3. We need to embrace self-empathy

Once we've identified our mountains and their root causes, it's time to replace self-sabotage with self-empathy. That means treating ourselves with kindness, practicing positive self-talk, and being patient with our progress.

Mistakes are inevitable and part of life. Instead of being harsh and critical, forgive yourself. Don’t be so quick to blame yourself when things don’t go as planned. Be gentle. Be kind. Be patient. Replace self-criticism with compassion and encouragement.

 
Wiest also shared some practical advice for fighting self-sabotage:

 
1. Set clear goals and intentions

When your goals are clear and achievable, your mind has direction. You become too focused on growth and progress to be distracted by self-sabotage.

 
2. Create a positive environment

Surround yourself with people who uplift you. Clean up your space. Avoid toxic influences. A good environment nurtures your well-being and minimizes negativity.

 
3. Develop healthy habits

Incorporate healthy habits into your routine—daily exercise, nutritious food, reading, gardening, or any passion project. These healthy distractions can steer your mind away from self-sabotaging thoughts.

 
4. Challenge your negative thoughts

When negative thoughts start to take over, challenge them. Learn cognitive reframing. Ask yourself:

• Is it really that bad?
• Is this worth my time and energy?
• Is this thought even true?

Often, you’ll realize these thoughts don’t hold as much power as you assumed.

 
5. Take consistent action

At first, the changes might feel small and insignificant. But over time, consistency leads to transformation. These small steps accumulate and grow into big results.

The Mountain Is You is a must-read for anyone struggling with self-sabotage and feeling stuck in their potential. If you're aiming to build a better self-image and heal from within, this book can be a powerful guide.

I hope the key takeaways I’ve shared inspire you to read it too—and help you take that first step toward conquering your own mountain.