TRY: THE POWER OF INTENTION

Both are about effort. But they approach it from slightly different angles.

The Climb

“The Climb” was released in 2009 as part of Hannah Montana: The Movie at a pivotal moment in Miley’s career. She was transitioning from Disney child star into a more mature artist. The song itself became one of her defining early anthems.

At its surface, the song is about perseverance — that life isn’t about arriving at some final destination but about the journey upward. “It’s not about how fast I get there… it’s not about what’s waiting on the other side… it’s the climb.”

You can template that meaning onto almost anything:

• A romantic relationship — love isn’t the wedding day; it’s the daily choosing.

• A relationship with God — faith isn’t a one-time conversion; it’s a lifelong ascent.

• A career — success isn’t a title; it’s who you become while pursuing it.

The power of the song is that it shifts your focus from outcome to process.

Try

“Try,” released in 2012 on The Truth About Love, is rawer. The song — and especially the choreography in the video — is about vulnerability in love. It asks the question: If love hurts, why do we keep doing it?

Her answer is simple: because we have to try.

Trying means risking embarrassment. Rejection. Failure. Looking foolish. It means stepping forward without certainty.

But trying is the only way anything meaningful ever happens.

The Adult Problem: We Stop Trying

As children, we try constantly. We fall. We miss. We experiment. We don’t think twice about looking awkward.

Then we grow up.

Outside of work — where trying is required — most adults gradually stop trying new things. We stick to what we already know. What we’re already competent at. What protects our ego.

And something subtle begins to erode: self-worth.

Self-esteem isn’t built from comfort. It’s built from agency — from doing hard things and surviving them. When we stop trying, we stop expanding. When we stop expanding, we begin to shrink.

The Psychology of Trying

From a neuroscience perspective, trying matters more than outcome.

When you attempt something new:

• Your brain forms new synaptic connections.

• Neuroplasticity increases.

• Dopamine is released — not only when you succeed, but when you pursue.

• The motor cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex light up during effortful practice.

Effort itself strengthens neural pathways.

As we age, the brain’s plasticity decreases — but it never disappears. Learning rhythm patterns, coordinating voice with breath, or building finger independence on guitar stimulates multiple brain systems at once. That kind of layered effort is protective against cognitive decline.

Trying keeps the brain young. And just as important: it keeps identity flexible.

My Own Climb

In my twenties, I was a fairly good guitarist. Not world-class — but solid. I could feel a groove. I understood tone. I loved the instrument.

Then life called. I raised a family. I built a career as a wealth manager. Music went on the shelf — not abandoned, just deferred.

Now, semi-retired, I have time again. And instead of easing back into one lane, I’ve decided to stretch:

• Rhythm and drums

• Guitar — primarily rhythm

• Backup vocals, maybe even lead

It’s a tall order at any age but here’s the shift: I’m not trying to learn music. I’m trying to feel like a highly accomplished musician. Because the truth is this: skills in life come from trying — not from obsessing about learning.

The Language Shift

I’m an avid skier. And I can almost always predict how quickly someone will progress by the language they use.

“I’m trying to learn to ski.”

That’s going to be a rough ride.

But when I hear:

“I’m learning to ski.”

Now we can work.

Then eventually:

“I’m skiing.”

The shift is subtle but powerful. Identity changes before performance does. You see yourself doing the activity — and then your body follows. This isn’t mystical. It’s neurological.

Mental rehearsal activates many of the same neural circuits as physical practice. Athletes use visualization for this reason. The brain begins wiring for a skill even before the body can fully execute it.

We were taught “seeing is believing.” But for personal growth, the opposite is often true. Believing is seeing.

Imagination as a Tool

Imagination may be the most underutilized success tool we have.

You can use it anywhere:

• Waiting at a red light

• Standing in line

• Sitting before a meeting

No one knows you’re practicing but you are. You’re rehearsing identity. You’re priming neural pathways. You’re stepping into the version of yourself that already does the thing.

You don’t need a PhD in neuroscience to use this. You just need intention.

Montana and the Climb

Montana — from the Spanish word for mountains — has over a hundred named mountain ranges. No one climbs them all in a lifetime.

The illustration for this post comes from a photo of Lone Mountain (often associated with Big Sky Resort). It’s one of the most dramatic peaks in the state.

Climbing it is doable — but not easy.

And no one can climb it for you.

That’s the point.

Success in any pursuit is often a lone — sometimes lonely — path.

The higher you go, the fewer people you see.

That’s not tragedy.

That’s reality.

Closing

So as Pink says: try.

And as Miley reminds us: it’s about the climb.

You’ll never fully “arrive.” And even if you did, you’d just look for another mountain.

So enjoy the ride.

My own belief system is rooted in Christian truth. But however you frame it — spiritually, philosophically, psychologically — growth requires intention. And intention requires effort.

Stop trying to learn.

Start seeing yourself doing.

Then try anyway.

That’s how you stay young — right up until the day you leave this mountain for whatever climb comes next.