Stay on Offense Climb Mountains

Attacking Adversity

Bookish Weapon Number Sixty-Three

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Joel Osteen is the most positive Pastor on the planet. Casey Treat might be a close second, but Joel has him beat I think. Joel’s newest book, “You Are Stronger Than You Think,” does not disappoint.

This book is for people who are having some difficulty in life. They might be in debt or just got fired or divorced. It is also for ay one who, as the subtitle says, want “to go bigger, go bold, and go beyond what limits you.”

Invite God Into Your Problems

This book is is not just for Christians, but for those that might be interested in Christianity too. I mention that because the book is full of God talk. One of the first things Joel talks about is not just praying to God to take away your difficulty, but to “invite God into your difficulties.”

I thought that was particularly powerful, because people get stronger not when they have no challenges but when they get through them. If you invite God into them you have a better chance of overcoming whatever it is you are up against. As Joel says, “When you ask Him to come in, you’re saying, “God, don’t just change the situation, change me. Help me to not just go through this but to grow through it. Help me to learn, help me to develop greater confidence, increase my faith, and let my character come up higher.”

Don’t Let The Darkness Discourage You

Joel points out that God started everything in the dark and he quotes Genesis: “The evening and the morning were the first day.” He says that, “God chase to start the day in the dark on purpose.” “The dark means the sun is on the way up. The promise is about to come forth.”

He tells the story of Paul praising God at midnight in the prison and he says, “…just keep thanking Him that He’s making a way where you don’t see a way, then you’re going to come into these times where God will suddenly show out in your life. He’ll make things happen you couldn’t make happen.”

Nevertheless

This is a powerful word and one that thought made Joel’s book more inspiring. When things come against you Joel says to not stop with the facts. The doctor report is not good, but “nevertheless” good will heal me. My finances are a mess, but “nevertheless” God will Mae me a lender snd not a borrower. Joel says, When you add “nevertheless” that’s what allows God to do great things.”

Another example, “God, everything tells me it’s over; that it doesn’t make sense in the natural. I have been turned down again and again; nevertheless, at Your word I am going to try again. I’m going to keep believing.”

Testing

This may be my favorite part of the book. He titles the chapter “The Hot Winds of Testing.” Joel lints out that “God never said we wouldn’t have an evil day, a time of trouble. But he did promise that if you just send He will bring you out.”

And here is a great quote from the book, “You can’t judge God’s favor by the storms He kept you out of, but by the storms he brought you through.” And another! “ Without these hot winds of testing, without storms, without difficulties, our lives would be easier, but we wouldn’t develop properly.’ The is so true. Think about all the people you know who have never had any serious challenges in their lives. What happened to them when they were in the middle of a pandemic? They had no resources to cope.

As usual there is much more n the book so get it and read it!

Go Hiking And Be A Happier You

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The titles of these books make this too easy! It goes without saying that if you go hiking you will, indeed, be more happy. How could it be anything else?

Don’t believe me? Then let’s look at the evidence.

Nature Bathing

I am sure I have mentioned this before. Recently more and more articles and books are talking about the benefits of being in nature. Even if all you do is go sit under a tree in the woods you are ahead of the game.

If you are walking then you are exposed to all sorts of plants and dirt and good stuff. Some folks like to go hiking barefoot. I saw someone this last season walking barefoot up the mountain. When I was 8, 9, and 10 years old I spent all summer without shoes. I remember stepping on some glass and it never even getting through the callus. But I digress. Put your boots on when you go hiking!

Get it Done Early

Once again, you will be happier if you finish your mountain by 8:30 in the morning. Look at it this way, the day has just begun for most people and you have already climbed a mountain. If that doesn’t make you happy, I don’t know what will.

Then there are other things on your list for the day that will get done because you climbed the mountain early. If you wait then the mountain becomes an excuse for not getting to other important goals for the day.

The Summit

Over the top happy happens when you reach the summit of a mountain. What could passably make you happier except doing it very early. You get to see the sunrise. More happiness!

You say, but what if I don’t make it to the summit? Not possible if you prepare and have grit, determination and discipline!

Go hiking!

Bookish Weapon Number Sixty-Two

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Scott Glassman wrote a book in 2013 called “A Happier You,” which is what I am going to summarize for you today. Recently, he wrote a new book, but I have not read it yet so I won’t comment.

“A Happier You,” is a step by step guide for becoming happier. It is a program really, which includes exercise you do every week. The question is how many people will take the time to do the exercises. Here are some of the highlights of the book.

Seven Weeks

The book is divided into seven weeks which include the following, catching positive events, exploring successes and personal strengths, cultivating gratitude, finding laughter and playfulness, fueling life with enjoyable and meaningful activities, reveling the springs of kindness and expanding the boundaries of love.

The author recommends that you not only do the exercises but do them several times per week. So this may be a book you want to read several times to get the full effect and to be sure to get your quota of exercises done.

Mountains

One of the things I liked was his use of mountains to explain concepts. He talks about listing “mountains” conquered during your week. It could include all your positive accomplishments or just major ones.

Then he says to ask yourself, “How do the smallest mountains I conquered this week move me closer to achieving my larger goals in life?”

Gratitude

Gratitude is a big part of feeling happier. I was not surprised when he included it. Every morning I write seven things down that I am grateful for including something that was bad but that had a silver lining.

The unique thing about how Glassman approaches this are the exercises. For example, he has you list common things you do every day and then gives you questions to ask that make them better. One question is, “How can I see this activity in my life as a gift?” Another great one is asking, “Is this something that would have been possible a hundred yeas ago? If not, how does that effect how much I appreciate it now?”

Meaning

Finding more meaning in your life should make you happier so the author spends some time helping you find it. Where? In new activities maybe. Or finding the meaning in existing activities.

Another part of this discussion includes values and the importance of fueling your activities by using values. You value fitness and health so you go hiking!

As usual there is a lot more in this book and I recommend you get it.

Go Hiking And Overcome

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If there is anything that you are out to do on a hike it is overcome. You are overcoming mosquitoes, wind, rain, elevation gain, a poor fitting boot, a broken trekking pole, or a bad fall.

Overcoming is what we all do when we are hiking. At least that is the way I look at it. As I have said before I don’t go for “nature walks.” Funny story. I asked a young lady years ago to go hiking with me. I just wanted someone to go hiking with but she somehow thought it was a date. So we get the top of the mountain and I am almost instantly getting ready to go back down. She, on the other hand, lays down on the ground and when I stand there for a moment staring, she says, “Don’t you ever take time to smell the flowers.”

Overcome The Mosquitoes.

I am allergic to mosquitoes so in order to overcome them I have to either out run them (keep moving), hope for wind, or apply lots of repellant. Some people that hike with me ask me if I ever take a “break: and I tell them I can’t. It is too dangerous!

They usually travel in packs or maybe that’s “swarms,” but it is the lone wolf that typically finds me. Did I tell you I am allergic? So if he is successful his or her bite will swell up my face or hand to the size of a balloon. Actually, the was when I was younger. Now it is more like a tennis ball.

Wind

Wind amongst the trees! Have you seen the results of a huge wind storm in the woods? On one trail there are trees from one such storm still laying all over the landscape. So there is the danger of falling trees. How do you overcome that? You don’t go hiking when the forecast is for 50 mile an hour winds!

How about 25 or 30 mile an hour winds? Well, it will lower the temperature for sure. How low? Usually at least 10 degrees. If it is already cold, it can make it something to overcome. Just dress warm.

Elevation Gain

That’s why you hike. To gain elevation!

If you don’t like to gain elevation I offer a remedial course to correct your thinking.

So let’s go hiking!

Bookish Weapon Number Sixty-One

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“Overcome,” was outstanding! I wished I had written it. Jason Redman certainly has the credentials. A former Navy Seal, shot up in the Mideast, who eventually overcomes all of that to teach all of us how to get over, under and around adversity.

Maybe it is the military mindset, but these folks have an uncanny ability to come up with terms for every situation. In this book “getting off the X” is one of my favorite. The other is “Are you ready.” Then it just gets better.

Getting Off The X

In Redmand’s world the X is where you are when you are ambushed. It can be in war or life. Divorce, bankruptcy, losing a loved one, or job loss. When those things happen it is you job to get yourself off that X as soon as possible. There is a small group of people that overcome. “Instead of being defined by their loss, they choose to define themselves by the challenges they’ve learned to overcome.” This is a choice!

He says, that to get off the X, you have to REACT.

Recognize your reality
Evaluate your position
Asses possible exit rutes
Choose a direction and communicate it
Take action

Abandon Panic

This is a chapter that must have been written for me, because it is my weakness or at least one of them. Redmand says, ‘When something catastrophic happens, the moment the pressure of panic begins to tighten, stop and take a deep breath. Get oxygen to your rapidly misfiring brain. Actively resist the voice telling you to run or react.”

He continues and says, “You can learn to manage panic if you rely on preparation, calm and positivity.

Are You Ready?

Redmand says, “The average human being will endure at least five major life changes over their lifetime.” So the question is, “Are you ready?” Are you prepared? You say how can I be prepared when I don’t know what is coming my way? You need Redmand’s Pentagon.

The Pentagon consists of five legs: Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Social and Physical. If all of those are strong then you will be prepared of the next ambush. If one or more is not so strong, you need to work on it.

Purpose and Mission

Redmond spends a good del of time on mission and purpose. He talks about how we need to allow the purpose to change as we change. As yourself, “What do I stand for and what am I passionate about. Those answers will help yo clarify your purpose.

Once you have the purpose and mission you set your course. A course consists of goals that are “realistic, attainable, measurable, and adaptable.” You have probably seen most of those before in writings about goals, but the one that is somewhat unique is being adaptable. That comes from the Navy Seals Semper Gumby theme. Adaptability rules!

As usual, there is so much more in the book so read it or listen to it.

Go Hiking And Give Yourself A High Five

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What could be more natural. You get to the top of a mountain and give yourself a high five! Why if I don’t have a mirror with me you say? High five your shadow!

Wait, what if it is raining? Then high five the air in front of you as you imagine looking at yourself. It took a lot to get to the top of that mountain so you deserve a high five.

That Morning

Of course if you read my summary of Mel Robbins book, “The High Five Habit,” https://stayonoffense.com/2021/10/10/bookish-weapon-number-sixty/you already know you are supposed to have high fives yourself that morning in the mirror while setting the intention of climbing to the top of the mountain you are on now.

The high five habit was created for mountain climbers even if Mel Robbins didn’t think that would be one of the outcomes of her new book. Hikers need more reasons to high five themselves.

Sitting In Your Car

Yes, you are sitting there even though you get to the trailhead fifteen minutes ago. Why?

Well, when you are sitting in your car at the trailhead and it is raining or snowing and you don’t want to get out of the car, high five yourself in your rear view mirror. Set your intention again and open that door! See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now you’re on your way.

It Gets Difficult

The high five habit is a “bookish weapon” against obstacles that pop up, like rain or snow or wind. What if the trail gets steep and you have never climbed this particular mountain? I say put one hand in front of you and high five yourself. It will keep you going!

Then you slip on the snow and go down. Get back up and high five yourself! Keep going. The high five habit will keep you on the game and on the mountain. Now go hiking!