#365 - Monday Motivation: "It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe."

Welcome to another short but empowering episode of Monday Motivation, giving you a dose of inspiration as you head into your week...

Today, we explore a profound quote from the legendary Muhammad Ali that reminds us of the true source of burnout and what really drains our energy day-to-day:

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

Here are three key takeaways you can expect from this episode:

1. Discover the importance of identifying and removing the “pebbles” in your life—those small, nagging frustrations that steal your energy.

2. Learn how to make simple but powerful shifts to stay aligned with your values and goals.

3. Be inspired by Kristina’s personal practices, like journaling and meal planning, that help keep her energy high and her journey joyful.

Take this opportunity to learn how to shift your focus to what really matters and lighten your emotional load by dealing with what’s draining you.

Listen in and discover how small, intentional actions can help you stay on track and enjoy your journey toward living your dream life, whatever that means to you.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful week …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

SHOW NOTES:

• Learn more about my Morning pages journaling here...
• Join my Platinum Coaching Program (NEW Member Trial offer - save $200!) - where in June our focus is on Planning Your Quarter 3. Align your plans with your vision. Reflect, refine, and reenergise for continued success - and join in our  monthly habit of Daily Movement!  Integrate daily movement to rejuvenate your body and spirit for the second half of the year. Learn more here. 
• Join my virtual book club GROW for June where we meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from great books. This June we're reading: 

  The Let Them Theory: A Life Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, by Mel Robbins & Sawyer Robbins. NEW Member trial offer - just $9! Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT:

Hi there, and welcome back to your Monday Morning Motivation episode.

Today, I want to talk about one of my favourite quotes by the incredible Muhammad Ali:

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

I love this quote—not just because it’s clever or powerful, but because it’s helped me understand how I think and why I feel the way I do. People often ask me, “How do you do it all?” “Where do you find the time?” or “How haven’t you burnt out yet?” This quote explains it perfectly.

When you take time to dream big, get clear on what your dream life looks like, and then align your dreams, goals, and habits with your values and passions, work becomes joyful. I genuinely love what I do each day. It doesn’t feel like a grind. That doesn’t mean every day is perfect, or that I love every single task—but even the hard parts feel worthwhile because I know why I’m doing them.

The big mountains—like starting a new business, writing a book, or building something from scratch—don’t wear me out. They energize me because they’re aligned with my purpose.

But do you know what does wear me out? The pebbles.

It’s the small frustrations, energy drainers, misaligned habits, decisions left unmade, and the clutter—both physical and mental. That’s why I’ve made it a lifelong practice to notice these pebbles and remove them regularly. Not once a year. Not occasionally. But consistently. Life is full of challenges. The key is whether we’re paying attention to the little things that slow us down.

What This Means For You

So what does this quote mean for you? And how can you use it to feel more energized on your journey to your dream life?

Here are four simple actions you can take this week:

1. Identify Your Pebbles
Ask yourself: What small things are constantly irritating or distracting you? What’s causing friction in your daily life?
Write them down. You might even dedicate a journal to this. Once you begin, you’ll notice more and more pebbles. Getting them out of your head and onto paper is the first step. For me, journaling is how I think—it’s where clarity happens.

2. Remove One Pebble Today
Choose one small thing and take action. Maybe it’s unsubscribing from annoying emails, having that difficult conversation, or updating your calendar so it reflects how you want to spend your time. Start small—just one pebble at a time.

3. Protect Your Energy
Reflect on what energizes you and what drains you. Then ask: How can I do more of the first and less of the second?
This is something I work on all the time in my journal. Awareness is everything. You may know that I do morning pages daily, and it helps me uncover both frustrations and things I’m grateful for.

Let me give you a simple example. Something that used to really frustrate me—and still does if I’m not organized—is not knowing what to cook for dinner. It’s so simple, but I think many of us who cook can relate. Eating healthy, varied meals is important to me. So I started meal planning on Saturdays. I even created a 14-day meal rotation. It saves me from cooking the same things over and over and ensures I have what I need at home.

Do I always follow it perfectly? No. If no one feels like what’s planned, we’ll make something else. But having the plan ready removes the pebble. It also saves me from unnecessary takeout, which I’d rather reserve for when we want it—not when we’re unprepared.

Even if you don’t cook every night, think about the equivalent in your life. Maybe it’s not being ready for your walk or gym session, or always rushing to find your keys. These are pebbles—and you can remove them once you notice them.

4. Focus on Aligned Action
When you’re clear on your dreams and goals, and living in alignment with your values, the mountains no longer feel heavy. They become a calling.

So ask yourself: What dream am I working toward? Are my daily actions taking me closer to it? If not, maybe it’s time for a few micro-adjustments.

Remember, it’s rarely the big goals that burn us out. It’s the things we ignore—the friction, the overwhelm, the “too small to bother with” annoyances that slowly steal our energy and joy.

This week, I encourage you to slow down and notice your pebbles. Remove what you can. Realign with what matters. And keep taking small, beautiful steps forward. Because your dream life isn’t just found at the mountaintop—it’s in how your shoes fit along the way.

As I always say, enjoy the journey—not just the destination. It’s all about progress, not perfection.

Sending you lots of love and belief for the week ahead.

I’ll be back on Friday with another episode. I’ll see you then.