The Peaks and Valleys Philosophy: A Philosophy with Skills

“The secret to happiness is to truly appreciate and enjoy each time for what it is while you are living.”

Spencer Johnson, M.D., the No. 1 bestselling author of “Who Moved my Cheese” in his new book, “PeAks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work For You – At Work And In Life” tells the story of a young man who lived unhappily in a Valley, dissatisfied, he headed for the Peak where he met an old man that told him the story of the Peaks and Valleys approach to managing good and bad times. Read the publisher’s note here.

You may ask, what are these Peaks and Valleys? Peaks and Valleys are not necessarily the physical peaks and valleys that we observe, but are rather the high and lows of life, or the good and bad times and the way we feel about them. They are not just the good and bad times that happen to us, they are also how we feel inside and respond to outside events. It is natural for everyone everywhere to have peaks and valleys at work and in life. Peaks are moments when you appreciate what you have, valleys are moments when you long for what is missing.

I discovered, just like the young man in the book, that it doesn’t matter where a person lived – whether in a fertile valley or on a magnificent peak, like the old man described in the book, what matters is how a person lives. ‘Peaks and Valleys’ teaches us how to work through the ups and downs of life and live in a more peaceful and successful way in both good and bad times. Highs and lows should be seen as normal occurrences in life… and just like the author said “A joyful rich life is a naturally changing landscape of Peaks and Valleys”. I think we can all master this Philosophy of Skills by choosing a better belief today to look and do things differently by creating a SENSIBLE VISION – which makes us get to our destination sooner… before you reach your destination, you would have been there in your mind.

MAIN POINTS TO NOTE:
It is not enough to simply know about Peaks and Valleys in your head, and talk about it, you need to Live the Peaks and Valleys Philosophy. And the more you do, the more you learn and grow and the more calm and successful you become.

• Both the good and bad times in life are truly gifts, and that each has great value, if you manage them well.
• Humility enables you to remain more on your peak longer.
  Our fear keeps us trapped – you can change a Valley into a Peak by letting go of your fear and getting outside of yourself.
• To get to your next Peak, create and follow your Sensible Vision – one that makes sense to you and is realistic and attainable.
• Valleys will definitely come your way (work and life would always be a series of Peaks and Valleys), but whenever you get confused about how to get out of a Valley, remember that
• Peaks and Valleys are opposite, so look at what you did that put you in the Valley.. and when you do just the opposite, you are bound to get opposite results.
• As we grow, we will be able to pass through our Valleys with increasing grace and serenity.
• It’s never too soon to make good and bad times work for you.
• Avoid Comparison and stop believing things are better than they really are when you are on a peak, or worse than they really are, when you are in a valley. Make reality your friend.
  

QUESTIONS TO ALWAYS ASK IN ANY SITUATION (Relevant for Individuals and Companies):

• What is the truth in this situation?
• How can we use the good that’s hidden in this bad time to our advantage?
• Do I/we want to create a sensible vision – a picture of a better future that makes sense to me/us?
  

USING YOUR PEAKS AND VALLEYS AT WORK AND IN LIFE:

• To manage your good and bad times: make reality your friend. Whether you are temporarily up on a Peak or down in a valley, ask yourself: what is the truth in this situation?
• To get out of a valley sooner: find and use the good hidden in a bad time. Relax, knowing that valleys end. Do the opposite of what put you in the valley. Get outside of yourself: be more of service at work and more loving in life. Avoid comparisons. Uncover the good that is hidden in a bad time, and use it soon to your advantage.
• To stay on a peak longer: appreciate and manage your good time wisely. Be humble and grateful. Do more of what got you there. Keep making things better. Do more for others. Save resources for your upcoming valleys.
• To get to your next peak: follow your sensible vision. Imagine yourself enjoying a better future in such specific, believable detail, that you soon enjoy doing what takes you there.
• To help people: share it with others! Help people make good and bad times work for them, too.

BRINGING IT HOME: some lessons for the individual, businesses and for managing our relationships.

For the Individual:

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Proust

• When you aspire for the Peak, you would be discouraged by people around you from going where they themselves had never been.
• It is absolutely alright to have feelings that there is different way of life outside what you are currently experiencing.
• You only get to the Peak through self-discovery… when this is done, you would gain a better view of the world and feel a sense of freedom that we all desire.
• Overcome your FEARS by moving beyond them. Beware of fearful vision when attempting to reach your peak.
• Until you change your methods or position you won’t see new opportunities. While you are in a valley, imagine seeing things you might see if you were on a peak.
• You don’t have to be old to gain wisdom.
• It is important that in our journey to go higher, we seek and gain insights into deeper truths of our own by listening to our hearts and thoughts while recalling real moments in our work and life.

Advice for Businesses:

• Never let success get into your heads.
• Continue to do the things that made you successful.

“To stay on a peak longer: be humble and grateful. Do more of what got you there. Keep making things better. Do more for others. Save resources for your upcoming valleys.”

• Never loose that sense of urgency and curiosity.
• Never stop being of service to others.

Advice for managing relationships:

• Decide to grow into a more loving and attractive person.
• By becoming more loving – replacing fear with love – you are more likely to be loved and attract truly fulfilling relationship into your lives.

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