Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson

I love this author already. After reading his book "Who moved my Cheese?", I saw his latest book Peaks and Valleys at MPH and decided that I would borrow it from our library which I must say, does a fabulous job stocking up on new books. The reservation system rocks big-time too because one is assured of getting one's desired book ultimately.

The Slog Reviews: Peaks and Valleys. 10/10. I love Spencer Johnson's books because they are so easily read (not thick with small print), engaging (told in a story form) and he always condenses the points he is making on a page so one doesn't miss the message he is trying to get across. Best of all, I love his attitude of encouraging readers to pass the positivity and messages along which all in all, make a better world for everyone to live in (and prob increase his book sales hehe). For peaks and valleys, I read the book twice because it was THAT good and I recommend you all to just grab a copy and read - it won't take more than 1 hour of your life. Some might say he states the obvious but but but...he does it in manner that makes it stick.

Anyway, here are some points worth sharing:

1) It is natural for everyone to have peaks and valleys at work and in life. Peaks and valleys refer to one's personal peaks and valleys - not just the good and bad times that happens to one but also how one feels inside and respond to outside events. You become more peaceful when you realise you aren't your Peaks and not your Valleys. A personal peak can be a triumph over fear.

2) These good or bad moments may last for mins, or for months, or longer. How one feels depends largely on how one views one's situation. The key is to seperate what happens to you from how good and valuable you are as a person.

3) The key is also to understand that personal peaks and valleys are connected and how they are connected. How? The errors you make in today's good times create tomorrow's bad times. And the wise things you do in today's bad times create tomorrow's good times. During bad times, return to basics and concentrate on what matters most. And in good times, do not waste too many resources, get carried away from the basics and ignore what matters most because that will lead to a bad time. So, we actually create our own good and bad times far more than we realise.

4) No one can stay in one place forever. Even if you remain physically in one spot, you are always moving in and out of the places in your heart. The secret is to truly appreciate and enjoy each time for waht it is while you are living it. How you experience a valley has a lot to do with how long you'll remain in it. Peaks are moments when you appreciate what you have and Valleys are moments when you long for what is missing. If you want to have fewer Valleys, avoid comparisons.

5) To change a Valley into a Peak, you need to change one of two things: what is happening, or how you feel about what is happening. The path out of the valley appears when you choose to see things differently ie in a positive way (so you don't appear downtrodden and whiny) You need to find and use the good that is hidden in bad times.

6) Between Peaks there are always Valleys. How you manage your Valley determines how soon you reach your next Peak. If you do not learn in a Valley, you can become bitter. If you truly learn something valuable, you can become better.

7) Like a healthy heartbeat, your personal Peaks and Valleys are an essential part of a normal, healthy life. So are the Plateaus, if they are times of healthy rest when you take stock of what is happening and pause to think about what to do next. While it is unhealthy to try to escape by blocking out reality, it can often be very healthy to relax and rest and trust that things will get better. Because, after a good night's sleep or a few days' break they often do.

8) The source of most pp's fear is ego. Your ego can make you arrogant on the Peak and make you see things as better than they really are. And when you are in a valley, our ego makes you fearful, keeps you from seeing what is real, and makes you see things as worse than they really are. It makes you think a Peak will last forever and a Valley will never end. The most common reason you stay in a Valley too long is fear masquerading as comfort. The most common reason you leave a Peak too soon is arrogance masquerading as confidence. Ask yourself always then 2 qns, 1) what is the truth of the situation? Make reality your friend. 2)How can we use the good that's hidden in this bad time?

9) The best way to get through a valley is by creating and following your own sensible vision. A vision of a future Peak you want to be on that makes good sense to you. Something as big as you can imagine that is also realistic and attainable if you want it enough. And sensible means you can make what you magine more real when you use all your five senses to create an image in such specific detail that you begin to realise you can make it happen. Enjoy doing what takes you there.

10) Wishing leads to no action. When you truly follow a sensible action, you want to do the things that make it happen. Fear blocks you but the truth helps you succeed. Peaks and Valleys is more than a way of looking at things, it's a way of doing things too. And the more you do, the more youl earn and grow, and the more calm and successful you become.

11) The purpose fo the Peak is to celebrate life and the purpose of the Valley is to learn about life.

12) 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.

13) You get out of a valley sooner when you manage to get outside of yourself: at work, by being of greater service, and in life, by being more loving.

14) What counted was not where a person lived. but how a person lived. A joyful rich life is a naturally changing landscape of Peaks and Valleys.