What’s Really Holding You Back ('The Mountain Is You' by Brianna Wiest | Book Club | 305)
This month’s Book Club pick was The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest—a deeply reflective and sometimes challenging look at self-sabotage, inner resistance, and emotional healing. In this conversation, Sharelle Griffith and I dig into the many layers of this book and share the lessons that most resonated with us as small business owners and as humans.
We talk about the not-so-obvious ways self-sabotage can show up (hello, perfectionism and disorganization), why healing isn’t about big breakthroughs, and how visualizing your future self can actually help you move forward. And while this isn’t a business book per se, we found tons of nuggets that apply directly to entrepreneurship and personal growth.
Note: This book touches on topics related to mental health. While it offers useful frameworks and insight, it’s not a substitute for professional support.
What’s included in this episode:
Why self-sabotage is more about unmet needs than willpower
The surprising ways resistance, disorganization, and busyness hold us back
How to recognize when you’re in a cycle of self-sabotage
Emotional backlog and the importance of letting yourself feel
Why growth looks more like micro shifts than dramatic change
Practical tools for visualizing and embodying your future self
Our thoughts on the book’s strengths (and a few critiques)
And much more
Key takeaways:
Self-sabotage is often rooted in unmet emotional needs—not laziness or lack of discipline.
You don’t need a huge breakthrough to change—micro shifts over time are what truly transform your life.
Emotions must be felt to be processed—suppressing them only leads to emotional backlog.
Visualization is a powerful tool—connecting with your future self can guide your present choices.
Your environment matters—disorganization can be a subtle form of self-sabotage.
Links and resources mentioned:
This month’s book: The Mountain Is You by Brianna West
Next month’s book: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
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