Not All Hills Are Mountains

 

Many of us have heard the saying, “Stop making a mountain out of a molehill,” or been hit with the accusation, “Stop being a drama queen.” But when we’re in recovery, learning to take a breath, relax, and calmly assess the situation in front of us can feel like one of the hardest lessons of all. Anxiety relief, in many cases, turns out to be the real hidden hope—not solving everything at once, but softening our panic long enough to regain clarity.

So, does letting our emotions spiral out of control help us regain control of our lives?
My experience tells me: absolutely not.

My Real-Life Example

Each day, I face the ongoing challenges of managing a household mostly on my own. There’s always something—fixing a fence, dealing with a broken dishwasher, keeping up with responsibilities. I can easily find myself running in circles, trying to do everything, accomplishing little, and feeling overwhelmed in the process.

But I’ve learned there’s another way: a spiritual approach.
Instead of trying to conquer the mountain all at once, I can start small and grounded—like the Serenity Prayer teaches. I begin with what I can do in this moment: I get out of bed, make the bed, wash my face, and greet the day with kindness and hope. These small acts reorient my focus and give me traction in moments when I feel like I’m slipping.

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🛠 Recovery Expressions That Help

1. HALT — Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
   Emotional storms often start with neglecting basic needs.

2. One Day at a Time —
   Break the day into simple, manageable pieces. Stay present.

3. Easy Does It (But Do It) —
   Calm, steady action beats frantic effort every time.

4. Don’t Go to the Hardware Store for Milk —
   Don’t expect everything from yourself. Let others help. Delegate. Ask.

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💭 Philosophical Anchors

• Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
  A molehill feels like a mountain when we give it too much power.

• Taoist wu wei (無為): Effortless action.
  Instead of forcing solutions, flow calmly with what is. Act gently but persistently.

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🙏 Spiritual Axioms That Ground Me

1. The Serenity Prayer

   “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

2. Matthew 6:34

   “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
   Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow.

3. Mosiah 4:27 (Book of Mormon)

   “…it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.”
   Pace matters. Rest is holy.

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Putting It All Together

When I take time to see clearly, I realize the Grand Teton Range of mountains in my life are often just molehills dressed up in drama. With the right mindset, these bumps in the road can be gently stepped over—not feared, not exaggerated. I can choose to live peacefully, do what I can, and let go of what I can’t.

More importantly, I can truly begin to “change the things I can, with the wisdom to know the difference.”

Have a great day—and if today feels like a mountain, just start with the next small thing.