STAGE 1
The Climb Up Sugar Mountain

STAGE 1
The Climb Up Sugar Mountain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all begin our climb up Sugar Mountain certain that our dreams will be realized once we reach the powdery summit. And of course we do. We’ve been programmed to believe that our joy exists in a future moment, a moment we must earn through determination, sacrifice and hard work. We are conditioned to prioritize our personal preferences and prove our worth in the world.

So we hustle and we grind, checking all the boxes society tells us to check. We get the promotion, the house, the car, the toys and along the way, we learn invaluable lessons of focus and perseverance, which helps us create an empowering foundation for our physical lives. Each material success tastes sweet like sugar. But as long as we keep assigning our true joy to reaching that sugary summit - the sweetness doesn’t last. In fact, once the high wears off it leaves us craving more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all begin our climb up Sugar Mountain certain that our dreams will be realized once we reach the powdery summit. And of course we do. We’ve been programmed to believe that our joy exists in a future moment, a moment we must earn through determination, sacrifice and hard work. We are conditioned to prioritize our personal preferences and prove our worth in the world.

So we hustle and we grind, checking all the boxes society tells us to check. We get the promotion, the house, the car, the toys and along the way, we learn invaluable lessons of focus and perseverance, which helps us create an empowering foundation for our physical lives. Each material success tastes sweet like sugar. But as long as we keep assigning our true joy to reaching that sugary summit - the sweetness doesn’t last. In fact, once the high wears off it leaves us craving more.
So we keep climbing, in pursuit of bigger goals.
 
Until eventually...we crash. Feeling disconnected, lost, asleep.
 
And the imaginary “peak” of Sugar Mountain dissolves beneath our very feet.
 
Forcing us to re-evaluate our entire definition of success.
 
Here we find the gift wrapped in thorns.

So we keep climbing, in pursuit of bigger goals.

 

Until eventually...we crash. Feeling disconnected, lost, asleep.

 

And the imaginary “peak” of Sugar Mountain dissolves beneath our very feet.

 

Forcing us to re-evaluate our entire definition of success.

 

Here we find the gift wrapped in thorns.

Create a space free of distractions and have a notebook handy, then…

  1. Watch the 6 minute Media as Medicine video and absorb Azrya and Bee’s personal journey through this stage as a reference point. Everyone’s experience of Sugar Mountain is different, but there are archetypal patterns and similarities woven throughout that will likely resonate on some level. 
  2. Set a timer for a minimum of 10 minutes and then free-flow your answers to the following essential questions. Don’t overthink. Just start.
 

Directed by Azrya Bequer & Archie Short

Editing: Archie Short
Cinematography: Archie Short, Adrian Brown, Andre Duqum

Create a space free of distractions and have a notebook handy, then…

 

  1. Watch the 6 minute Media as Medicine video and absorb Azrya and Bee’s personal journey through this stage as a reference point. Everyone’s experience of Sugar Mountain is different, but there are archetypal patterns and similarities woven throughout that will likely resonate on some level. 
  2. Set a timer for a minimum of 10 minutes and then free-flow your answers to the following essential questions. Don’t overthink. Just start.
 

Directed by Azrya Bequer & Archie Short

Editing: Archie Short
Cinematography: Archie Short, Adrian Brown, Andre Duqum

Q: What are your personal goals? What do you need to achieve them? How fulfilled will you be once you do? What feelings will the achievements evoke in you? Why can’t you generate those feelings right now?

 

Q: In what ways will redefining success change your life?

Q: What are your personal goals? What do you need to achieve them? How fulfilled will you be once you do? What feelings will the achievements evoke in you? Why can’t you generate those feelings right now?

 

Q: In what ways will redefining success change your life?