Think Positive! The Secret Key to a Happy and Rich Life

This is going to be about me. This is going to be about why I need to write. And this is going to be about those peak experiences where I have my best moments.

Yes, today I will write about myself.

I changed my profile picture.

After I had done that, I had the idea to write this piece of text.

And I had the idea to include my new profile picture in a large format, here:

A peak moment, I am standing on the top of that mountain, after hours of hard randonnee ski climbing!

Do you follow me?

I fully understand if the reader might not have a clue about what I am talking about, what I am trying to say now. So, I will explain.

It’s about trekking. It’s about Randonnée skiing. And it’s about writing. It is about peak experiences.

It’s about what these three activities have in common.

I love to say it every single time I can. I love writing. Writing is a creative act. Writing is an experience, a practice or an exercise I love to do every single day if I can.

I am a lucky man.

I find myself in a situation where I am

• 100% financially independent,
• in good health,
• having great relationships with my closest family and friends,
• working from home,
• free many hours each day to do whatever I want — which is writing ideas I have and developing those ideas to stories I publish on Medium or elsewhere,
• etc.
• etc.

The list of positive aspects of my life situation could go on for pages.

The point is

I have understood this one thing, which is a key to a good and meaningful life: Think Positive!

In my mind and in my actions: a positive approach to life and to the opportunities that life provides.

I say this to myself and I try to live accordingly: Think Positive!

I believe the best way to describe this more precisely could be that I tell you how I create and how I experience my peak moments.

I love and have always loved trekking. Walking on my feet upwards steep mountain sides, in the winter time walking with skis on snowy hillsides and after hours of sweat finally reaching the peak, the top of the mountain.

Ah! There is nothing like a peak experience of this kind!

When I decide to go for a peak experience, conquer a mountain peak, I always make up my mind in advance, most often a day or two before. I drive my car to the foot of the mountain in question, I take out from the car my skis and my backpack with some clothing, a little food and drinking water, and my camera. And I go!

Sometimes, when I am not familiar with the peak in question, I go with a group from the trekking association. Most often I go alone, happy to be there in the nature alone with my thoughts and my fatigue.

On this particular day I will talk about here, I had been driving for 5 hours to get to the area where the mountain I had decided to conquer is situated. The mountain is called The Loft, and it is a relatively easily accessible peak in the midst of the mountain area Jotunheimen, centrally situated in southern Norway.

After the breakfast at the mountain lodge I went to join the group.

The starting point was at 1000 meters above sea level, and the peak was at 2170 meters. Not extremely challenging, but although a good distance to walk, and 1170 height meters to conquer.

When I challenge myself to reach a peak, I am alone with myself inside in my inner space. I don’t force myself, I never say to myself that I shall reach the peak, no matter what.

I just start walking, putting one foot before the other, progressing slowly upwards, enjoying the sensations inspired by the great landscape around me.

I get warm, I sweat, I feel drops running into my eyes, I need to stop and wipe away the sweat.

On the way upwards, I think. I think a lot. About what I am doing just now, about my life, about my most recent writing ideas.

I am walking, slowly moving upwards. I can feel the dopamine in my body. I feel lifted. There is a power inside of me carrying me.

I don’t allow myself to think any negative thoughts, such as thinking I will maybe not reach the peak this time.

I let my thoughts wander. I lift my foot, I advance slowly, one step at the time, always going higher.

Up,

up,

upwards!

When I am in that condition, I feel privileged. I never think I will not walk on; I never think I will turn around and return down there before I reach the peak. I never think of giving up.

I am moving my body and soul slowly upwards, up that steep mountain side. I let my mind wander. I search for meaning. I search for words to describe how I feel.

I think of the French writer Albert Camus. Many years ago I wrote my French Literature thesis based on his essay “Le Mythe de Sisyphe”.

In The Myth of Sisyphus Albert Camus

compares the absurdity of man’s life with the situation of Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again. The essay concludes, “The struggle itself […] is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy”. (Wikipedia)

When I am in the middle of my struggle to get myself — body and mind — up to the peak, it happens that I think of Sisyphus. I then feel I am in the centre of my positive thinking. I do not think of the absurdity of man’s life. But otherwise, I agree with Camus, so:

Think positive!

We must imagine Sisyphus happy.

I experience my greatest moments of happiness when I am in the middle of one of my peak experiences. I try to include this positive momentum in the rest of my life.

Writing is for me like climbing a mountain.

Writing is for me a peak experience.

Think positive!

Be happy!

Thank you for reading!

“Make Your Dream Be Your Future​”