Writing Your New Story: Sacred Transformation
“At the core of every transformation is the understanding that who we are becoming requires us to release who we once were,” writes Brianna Wiest in “The Mountain Is You.” This profound truth resonates deeply with Marianne Williamson’s insight that “The moment of surrender is not when life is over. It’s when it begins.” Both spiritual masters and psychological pioneers have long understood this paradox of transformation – that our greatest becoming requires our deepest surrender.
The story of Paul’s conversion on the Damascus road exemplifies what Wiest describes as our “greatest mountains becoming our most powerful teachers.” Here was a man, consumed by righteous anger, struck blind only to truly see for the first time. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” (Galatians 2:20). As Wiest would say, this is the ultimate example of allowing our obstacles to become our path, mirroring what Carl Jung called “the night sea journey” – the descent into our depths that precedes authentic transformation.
“The process of healing is not about becoming a new person,” Wiest writes, “but about becoming who we were meant to be all along.” This profound insight aligns with psychologist James Hillman’s concept of the “soul’s code” – our inherent calling to become who we truly are. Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön reinforces this understanding: “Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.”
Consider Paul’s journey: from Saul the persecutor to Paul the apostle. This wasn’t merely a change of name or occupation – it represented what psychologist Richard Rohr calls “ordered loss and relinquishment.” Wiest’s emphasis on integration rather than elimination of our shadows resonates here. She writes, “Your healing will not come from trying to get rid of your pain, but from learning to use it as a catalyst for growth.” This parallels what trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk teaches about rewriting our stories with new understanding.
The mountain, as Wiest describes it, isn’t just an obstacle to overcome – it’s the very means of our transformation. Thomas Merton, the contemplative monk, understood this when he wrote, “We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” This mirrors attachment theory pioneer John Bowlby’s insight that healing and growth happen in the context of secure relationships – with others, with ourselves, and with the Divine.
“The mountain is not meant to defeat you,” Wiest reminds us, “it’s meant to teach you, to strengthen you, to show you who you really are.” This aligns with what Carl Rogers called “unconditional positive regard” – a deep acceptance of ourselves as we are, even as we grow into who we’re becoming. As spiritual teacher Ram Dass observed, “The spiritual journey is not about acquiring something outside yourself. Rather, it’s about surrendering all that you’ve been holding on to.”
As Wiest concludes her book, she emphasizes that breakthrough happens “when we stop fighting who we are and start becoming it instead.” This echoes Dr. Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability and authenticity – that our true strength comes not from perfection but from integration of all parts of ourselves. Just as Paul had to integrate his zealous nature into his new calling, we too must integrate our past into our emerging story.
Prayer for the Sacred Journey:
Divine Author of our stories, as we stand at this threshold of transformation, grant us the courage of Paul to let go of old identities, the wisdom to integrate our learning, and the grace to step fully into the new story You’re writing through our lives. Help us see our mountains as You do – not as obstacles but as pathways to transformation. May we, like Paul, allow our wounds to become windows through which Your light shines. Amen.
Contemplative Practice:
In sacred silence, consider Wiest’s words: “The mountain is you. The solution is you. The path is you. The answer is you.” Write in your journal: What has your mountain taught you? How has it shaped your new story? What wisdom will you carry forward? Remember, as Thomas Merton prayed, “I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.” Let this desire guide your new narrative.