Stay on Offense Climb Mountains

Attacking Adversity

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!

Bookish Weapon Number Sixty

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Mel Robbins is so inspiring and “real.” Her latest book sure is a “bookish weapon” for you all. It is called “The High Five Habit.”

What makes the “High Five Habit,” so special? I’m going to break it down for you.

Simple But Powerful

What Mel wants us all to do when we get up in the morning is high five ourselves in the mirror. That is pretty simple. We all know how to high five someone. Mel acknowledges that it will feel a little strange at first ( I will attest to that). However, once you get rolling all is well.

As you are standing in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, set an intention for the day and then say out loud several possible things depending on your situation. For example, maybe you are afraid of an upcoming speech you need to give and you say, “I’m afraid and I have got this,” or “You can handle this. I know you can.” So you get the idea. The book gives more examples. After only four days I noticed a difference in how I felt about myself. Mel says it is because our mind knows that a high five is a positive congratulation and you are giving it to yourself. It works on you! It changes how you see yourself.

Controlling Negative Self Talk

There are other books that discuss this in detail as well, but I really liked Mel’s approach. When a negative thought appears in your head you say, “I’m not thinking about that.” Then you replace that thought with something positive. You are checking your mental filter.

As Mel points out that, “It’s dead simple, but if you are an over thinker, a worrier, a catastrophizer, paralyzed by fears, or struggling with anxiety, this is a life changing. Keep interrupting those negative thoughts every time they pop up during the day. Then as I mentioned above, you replace the thought with something positive and Mel gives you a whole list of Matras to choose from or find your own. Here is a sample from her list: “I deserve to feel good today.” “I have my own back.” “This is teaching me something I need to know.”

Obstacles and Opportunity

This part of the book was a great reminder for me that obstacles can mean opportunity. Mel tells a story about a Uber driver she met with a dream and how she helped him. She points out that “…there are two kinds of people: People who see obstacles and people who see opportunity.” She points out that the “high five attitude is action oriented and sees opportunity.”

What are the practical steps? If you say to yourself, “Now is not the right time for my dreams,” Mel says to flip it to, “If I put in the work I can make it happen.” She advises us to set a deadline. Then write all this down! If you write it down it is a signal that it is important to you. Ok, you got it? Then get Mel’s book. There is a lot more in it!

Bookish Weapon Number Fifty-Nine

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Normally I comment on non-fiction books, but I am a true fan of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books and have read every one of them. They are page turners so I thought I would let you know what you are missing. Are they bookish weapons? Sure, maybe you can get lethal like Reacher.

If I already wrote about the Reacher books (I don’t think I did) that’s ok, because they are so good. The genre is Crime Thriller, but I never paid much attention to that. I thought of them as Spy Novels for a long time.

Story

All of these books including, “The Sentinel” have a story formula that hooks you. Jack Reacher is traveling about the country, stops in a town or an area and promptly gets involved in some nefarious circumstance. Then he uses his skills as a former military police officer to figure out what’s going on.

It isn’t quite like the “hero’s journey” because in the hero’s journey the hero gets thrust into an adventure and has to acquire skills to get through it or at least that is how I understand it. Reacher already has all the skins he needs and then some.

Reacher

One of the things that makes Reacher’s character so appealing is his bigger the life persona. He is (unique Tom Cruise) huge. Very tall with big hands that cover someones face easily. He knows al sorts of fighting moves the allow him to subdue any antagonist easily. If the bad guys are untrained he can usually handle up to five at a time. He always gives them the option of not fighting and tells them they can avoid the hospital.

Jack isn’t just a big neanderthal either. He knows what time it is without looking at a clock and picks up clues easily. I have not read one of his books where he hasn’t solved the mystery or crime.

He travels across the country on a military pension. Never washes his clothes. He buys new ones when they get dirty. Usually he meets a woman and eventually finds himself involved until it is time to move on again.

The Sentinel

As I said, I have read all of Reachers books. One comes out every fall. This one was one of the most recent. I suppose I should say something about it, but it is like all the others except this one he wrote with his son, Andrew Child. It ends almost the same as all the others. He is hitchhiking and someone stops for him and in this case tells him he is going to Nashville. So he has this conversation with himself. Let me quote”

“He had just left Nashville, and he had a rule. Never go back. It rarely ends well. But he had been making a few exceptions recently. They had all worked out ok.”