The Plateau Principle: Our Journey from Effort to Ease
We climb steadily—building habits, showing up daily, and turning intention into action. Then, around Week 10, something shifts. It does not feel like a summit; it feels like stepping onto a wide, open plateau.
This plateau is not a stop—it is a new beginning. It is where the practices we once had to remember—the daily sit, our purpose, our rituals—have become part of who we are. The scaffolding of effort has been absorbed into our being.
This transformation unfolds across Three Stages of Mastery:
1. Conscious Foundation – where we build our framework with deliberate effort.
2. Conscious Integration – where practice becomes consistent and momentum builds.
3. Unconscious Embodiment – where practice becomes nature, effortless and integrated.
Here, something profound happens: Our habits have not just changed our routine—they have changed what we believe is possible. We have moved from seeking permission to living with internal authority.
This plateau is our foundation. It is stable ground from which we can see new horizons clearly. The journey has not ended; it has deepened. The path is now the ground we walk—with steadiness, clarity, and quiet confidence.
The walk continues. Onward, from solid ground.
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The View from the Plateau
From this new vantage point, we see with fresh eyes. What once felt like discipline now feels like presence.
The tools we carried have become extensions of ourselves—the daily sit is now a sanctuary we carry within, our purpose is the rhythm in our step, not just words we recite.
This is not about arriving somewhere. It is about becoming—becoming people for whom growth is not an effort, but an expression.
How to Recognize We Have Reached the Plateau
We know we are here when:
- · Rituals feel natural, not required
- · Our purpose guides us without conscious thought
- · Setbacks feel like feedback, not failure
- · We have energy for new growth because fundamentals run on autopilot
Living from the Plateau
This stable ground is not for resting—it is for seeing clearly. From here, we can:
Expand outward – Take on new challenges with the confidence of those who know how to build capability
Deepen inward – Refine what matters most with the clarity of integrated practice
Share authentically – Guide others not from theory, but from lived embodiment
The plateau teaches the most important lesson: Transformation happens not in the dramatic leaps, but in the quiet consistency that rewires our very being.
A New Beginning
Remember: plateaus in nature are not barren. They are fertile ground—stable, sunlit, and ready for new growth. Our plateau is the same. It is not where we stop; it is where we plant the seeds for our next becoming.
The permission we sought was always ours to give. The authority we needed was always ours to build. And the people we are becoming were always there—waiting for the daily practices that would reveal them.
The path has become the ground beneath our feet.
The walk continues—stronger, clearer, freer.
In Gratitude & Faith,
A Fellow Traveler
Thank you Ron! ☺️
“The plateau teaches the most important lesson: Transformation happens not in the dramatic leaps, but in the quiet consistency that rewires our very being.”
Your blogs are wonderful to read. Your thinking on growth is spot on!!
Thank you Janet! 🙏
“Dear Luc, thank you. Your words—and the image of that shining mountain lake above the hill of acceptance—moved me to tears. To be met on the path with such profound understanding and recognition is a gift I will cherish. It’s true; the work is steep, and the plateaus require a special kind of faith. To have a fellow magician remind me that the climb itself is the magic, and that effortless grace awaits, fills me with renewed courage and gratitude. I am honored to be walking this path with guides like you. With deep appreciation.”
Dear Chandrashekar, your plateau metaphor is very accurate and insightful, it indeed clearly represents the path of every MKE adventurer who earnestly make the effort to integrate the MKE exercises in their daily practice…Congratulations as you are one of these motivated and inspiring adventurers! Your blog made me remember a similar metaphor I shared a few years ago in the Guide blog area ( https://whoarethebestlifecoaches.com/the-hill-of-acceptance-my-journey/ )
You are definitely on the right track, thank you for your inspiring post!
Thank you fellow traveler!
Thank you, Peaches. You really got the heart of what I was trying to say. Your “woohoo” made my day.
Onward from this new place. 🙏
Such a powerful blog Chandra. You’ve described that shift from “trying” to “being” with so much clarity. Reaching the plateau isn’t slowing down—it’s stepping into a new level of self-trust, where your habits now hold you.
Keep moving forward from this grounded place. The path feels different now because you are different—and that’s the magic. Woohoo 🙌
Thank you, Dorothea. You’ve perfectly captured the quiet, steady power of true transformation. I’m so grateful for your insightful words. ✨🙏
Thank you,Candy. You’ve perfectly distilled the core idea—it’s all about the “small, measurable, and consistent steps.” That’s the quiet engine of real change. I so appreciate you reading and sharing your take.
Beautifully expressed. The plateau as a new beginning instead of stagnation, that is exactly what true transformation feels like. Quiet, steady, and powerful. Until we live our full unfolding consistently. 🙂
“The plateau teaches the most important lesson: Transformation happens not in the dramatic leaps, but in the quiet consistency that rewires our very being.” This is fantastic Chandrashekar, and so true. The small measurable and consistent steps.