How Breakthroughs Happen

BY Leslie Ralph        May 15, 2018

When I lived in California, the hills were my happy place. Even though I huffed and puffed the whole way up, the breathtaking view from the top and coasting down the other side were sacred to me.

When I began exploring the hills, I couldn't imagine making it to the top without my entire body burning. A year later, running up the hill, I passed walking tours huffing and puffing their way to the top, and I smiled as I thought of the breathtaking view they were about to enjoy.

With as much magic as I found in those hours on the hills, you'd think I would have internalized the deeper meaning. There are hills and there are valleys in life, and you may be huffing and puffing to the top today, but tomorrow? You could be coasting down the other side.

Ah, but being in this human form, I forget. I can worry, attach myself too much to the details, and focus on what I lack.

And sometimes, I really struggle up those hills.

Or I did, until something kind of amazing happened.

I was in one of those phases that makes you wonder - what am I even doing? It seemed like everyone else had it all figured out and there I was, flailing around in the corner. 

I'd been reading my Notes from the Universe and practicing my vibrational alignment, but (I hated to admit this part)... I was stuck.

I huffed and puffed and crawled my way through the weeks.

And one day, when I felt like I just couldn't keep up with it all, I closed my eyes and thought, "All right Universe, this is officially me asking for guidance. I need a sign or something. Anything." 

I chose a pink car as that sign.

I had a good laugh at myself after that because I couldn't remember the last time I’d seen a pink car, but it brought me a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a while.

I'd almost forgotten about my moment of surrender when, hours later, a bright pink pick-up passed through the intersection ahead of me, and at that very moment, waiting at a stoplight across the street, sat an unmistakably pink car.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Okay, message received.

I smiled the whole way home.

Later that afternoon, I took my sons out in the double jogger to process what was happening. I wasn't sure what, but something was happening.

We hadn't passed a single person out there until, as we approached a bridge, a bell rang behind me and a woman asked if I needed help up the hill. Without looking, I smiled and said, "No, thanks. I'm good. This is good work."

When she passed me, I saw head to toe, wheel to wheel pink. Pink shoes, pink helmet, pink everything.

I didn't just laugh then, I cried.

I heard the Universe telling me right then, "You are on the hill. Keep going, and enjoy the view from the top."

I've thought about that moment every day since then, and every time I find new meaning in it.

Do you need help up the hill?
No, thanks. This is good work.

That was a major breakthrough for me.

Now, when I find myself huffing and puffing, I remember the hills, the breathtaking view at the top, and the feeling of coasting.

And I'm learning to thank the struggles for teaching me to appreciate the view and embrace the good work I'm doing.

The hills are good work, and that's what we're designed for: good work.

This is a lot easier to remember when you're literally climbing a hill because you can plainly see that, yes, you are on a hill. You can see how steep it is and how far you have to go.

But life's hills can be trickier. You can't see them (but you sure can feel them), and you never know how much more you have to go until you can finally catch your breath and take in the view.

So, it takes trust and openness and the willingness to let go a little. I'm not perfect at it, but you don’t have to be perfect to work alongside the Universe.

Since that day, life's been lighter, and I feel freer. And I have to tell you, pink cars, pink trucks, and other wonderfully strange synchronicities are everywhere.

If you're struggling right now and wondering if there's anything on the other side of this, remember, this is how breakthroughs happen. In tiny baby steps, huffing and puffing up the hill until one day, you're smiling from the top. The uphill battle is just as much a part of the breakthrough as the crest and the coasting.

The forces of the Universe are at work at this very moment, so if you need a little nudge, say so. Then, ever so softly, keep your eyes open for the wonderfully strange synchronicities, little whispers, and big pushes. 

And keep going.

The top of the hill might be closer than you think, and when you get there? You're gonna be flying. 

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