A lovely book spreading the way of thinking of life during terrible and great occasions. I’ve come to believe that everyone is going through something major just about everyday of their life. Certainly with what’s happening in our culture, economy and government, this is true. That’s why I believe this book will be helpful to read.
Go ahead and pick up your copy and join me on the book club forum!
This book has taught me the once you TRULY learn to manage your good and bad times, you gain a sense of healthy balance. Thank you Mizinga for this platform – I can’t wait to see everyone else take on this amazing book!
Exactly and thank you Shana
As you Brave the Odds, People you surround yourself with really matter!
This week I am reading a really interesting book from my book club called Peaks and Valleys by Stephen Spencer! This book is extremely relatable to our daily lives as we all experience cycles of good times and bad times, the Peaks and Valleys.
While we can not choose some of the experiences we go through we do have a choice of the types of people we surround yourselves with during these periods and these choices can make a huge impact on making a difference in the process of your life.
Let’s take look at the types of people you should surround yourself with during your peaks and valleys!
Surround your self with:
~ people who encourage you to quickly get up and get out of your comfort zone and Brave the Odds to rise to your Peak. The valley can be an extremely comfortable zone and it is very easy to remain there – The comfort zone does not challenge you or expand your thinking. To move to the next level, you have to consciously push yourself to become comfortable being uncomfortable by taking on challenges which may scare you but will get you out of your comfort zone
Be willing to learn all the tough lessons from the valley and move on
~ people who will help you get out of the valley quicker. During periods of the valley, it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for ourselves and blame the Odds! You need people who will challenge you with sometimes hard truths to push you to get out of the valley
~ people who will help you stay at your peak longer. Climbing out of any valley to your peak is not an easy task and your momentum may wane. Make sure you keep a support system that will keep you in check and urge you on when you feel you can not go on
~ people who will believe in you when you are in the valley and during low times. It’s not enough to have people just stand by you but what matters is having people who will encourage you to go beyond your potential.
~ people who are mature enough and understand that going through valleys and peaks is part of normal life experiences. They will remind you that you are not alone and encourage you not to feel ashamed. It is not about the Odds but how one braves the odds during these times.
~ people who during low times encourage you and help you bring the best out of you. They recognize and understand your talents and strengths which can help you Brave the Odds. They walk the journey with you to get to the top.
This is a living truth presentation of what a man goes through in life. It has really revived and encouraged my spirit to confidently face the odds that I found myself. I have been ; Rejected, Fooled, Humiliated, isolated, denied, during my time I lost my job as a Bank Manager. I lost all my people I thought I would learn on. I remained alone and almost went into depression. Thank to some good samaritan who encouraged me to forge on and open a new page in life. This article has really strengthened me. Thank you Mizinga.
This excerpt is profound and timely. Coming to the realisation that we will experience both the good and bad really sets us to harness our strength when at the peak and develop character to get out of the valley. I believe in a strong support system! Thanks for this share!
Afternoon,
The book sounds inspiring do you have it in soft copy?
Am inspired
Wonderful teaching
This excerpt is really profound, informative & insightful. A great support system is very essential & inevitable. Thanks for sharing Mizinga.
This is truly profound and I learnt during my hard times who genuinely had my back. Thanks for this.
Leant something here. You the one I need and I thank God have connected with you. Just eagerly waiting for the woman’s lead.
Very insightful book. Am on chapter 1 and can’t wait to dive in the rest. Thank you Mizinga
Peaks and valleys is indeed a very helpful book, with solid knowledge on how we can better our lives to our best potential.
This is very insightful information and extremely relevant during these challenging times of the global health pandemic and its economic and social effects. During these hard times, we may easily find ourselves in valleys of different forms. A great support system is indeed inevitable if we are to successful brave these odds.
Profound.. “ to move to the next level you have to consciously push yourself to become comfortable being uncomfortable by taking on a challenge which may scare you but will get you out of your comfort zone “ thank you so much Mizinga 🙏 this speaks to me in a dipper way
Wow very powerful book indeed, am really encouraged and I pray God to give me people who really understand what good friendship is all about.
Thank you Mizinga for sharing this.
You sharing this comes at such a timely moment.
And with this, am learning how that my response (whether to act or not act in a certain way) matters during the peaks and valleys I may go through.
I also see how that it is my responsibility to surround myself with people that will encourage me not to accept the status quo but press on into arriving where I ought to be.
I think I need to reorganize my life but what I have experienced is that it’s hard to find such people sometimes, just when you thought you had such a support system they suddenly disappear on you when you really need them the most. What to do 🤷🏽‍♀️
I have come across people who l thought l couldn’t be vulnerable and transparent with but l was wrong,so l have learnt it important to be really careful with who l share my personal life experiences with. And it really true madam mizinga to build a strong and healthy support system if lam going to move out of my comfort zone (valleys),and really intentional about that.thank you for your encouraging words!
very encouraging
Wow am a book lover too. I love to read
I would love to have encouragers around me when the odds are there.
Thank you very much, so motivating 🙏🙏🙏
I love to read it broadens my knowledge scope and I would like to be part of the reading club
This book sounds quite interesting
Awesome stuff indeed. Will strive to surround myself with the right people.
very encouraging thanks for the writeup
Ohhh wow this was meant for me.
Sometimes you just need someone to tell you ‘things will be better ‘ and truly means it especially in the hard times.
I am MOTIVATED
Well, I must say that this book brings about the reality of a man’s life .
It has practical lessons,
When I was reading it I substitutes the young man and put myself there.. it gave me a different view about the peak and the valley..
Incredible reflection of the book. I am indeed fascinated by the peaks and the valleys and wish to read the book. How do I access it? And thank for sharing.
Awesome book and l would encourage people to read the book. Just the introduction about the book. Am picking Ann saying to Michael being in a good space. Finding your truth. Interpreting the same to finding your own voice. Chapter 1 talks about being comfortable in the valley initially but later you being uncomfortable and start to aspire for more. I call this the God factor in us. We were meant for more.. The young man started looking at the peak and wondered what was there? People discouraged him. Parents. Am sure friends and relatives. How many times do we hear these voices. Despite the voices and his fears he decided to start the climb. l call it leap of faith. As he climbed he started noticing the difference, valley looked small, view was better but it was not easy. He faced obstacles, fail, bruised but he didn’t give up. Found New path. Summary of chapter 1; Find your purpose, find your voice, conquer your fears and don’t give up. It’s all about you
OMG. Chapter 2 and 3, offering such aha moments. Mindset change. Reminded of what the bible says, as a man thinketh so is he. You can decide to find the good in the bad. Peaks and valleys are interconnected. Being prepared. Thinking outside the box. Most times we want to be victims and not victors. How long you stat on the valley is up to you. Preparedness. Also learning from the wise. Every person has peaks and valleys. I have been there and as long as am alive, we are alive we will experience both sides. It’s about how we respond. How quickly do l get out of the valley is about me and supporting system. Mizinga and fellow book club members you will notice an using I to remind myself that if it has to be it has to be ME. Taking 100% ownership. Am so grateful for this path
Great insights Agatha. Amazing! Use I to encourage yourself!
Thanks Mizinga for a timely reminder that I need to surround myself with people who will encourage me, challenge me, believe in me, cheer me, help me as I go through my peaks and valleys. The human nature in us, makes us get easily comfortable even in uncomfortable spaces because of the habits we build and the people we surround ourselves with. I definitely have to get hold of the book!
Just joined and I am glad to be hear….
Starting my read right away.
Thank you for a platform like this oneđź•Ż
Good day! This has been a good book to open the year with on my mission to read at-least one book per month.
The principles in this book are practical and relatable. I most appreciate how holistic the approach is on applying in work life and family life…
1. As a man thinketh. What we choose to believe about ourselves and our situations dictates the course an issue will take and how long we stay in a difficult situation. Perception is everything!
2. Humility is a big one for me. Even in seeking people to support us we need to look “outside of ourselves” to see if we are truly being lovable and bearable with those around us. This one is also linked to having a teachable spirit even when we are at a life peak. Always being able to admit we don’t know everything.
3. Fear! For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of POWER, LOVE & SOUND MIND. When the young man was trying to get to the higher peak he spoke about having to challenge fear to finally get clarity on what steps he needed to take.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Looking forward to more reccomendations. Thanks!
Wow Wow Wow! What great insights from the book. Peaks and Valleys by Spenser Johnson. l have finished reading the book and my insights and review from chapter 1 to chapter 9 are as follows;
‘Peaks and valleys are not just the good that happen to you. They are also how you feel inside and respond to outside events.’. Bad times will always happen. How do we handle and make use of today’s bad times to create tomorrow’s good times.
chapter 8 provides a summary. Take aways
1. Make reality your friend. What is the truth in this situation?
2. Find and use the good hidden in a bad time. Relax knowing that valleys end?
3. Appreciate and manage your good times wisely. Be humble and grateful
4. Follow your sensible vision
5. Share what you have learnt with others
Peaks are moments when you appreciate what you have and valleys are moments you long for what is missing. You can’t always control external events but you can control your personal peaks and valleys by what you believe and what you do.
Another aha insight, use the plateau as a time to rest, reflect and renew.
l can go on and on. l have appreciated the principles as they are bible based. I was able to relate with the story of Joseph when he was made prime minister of Egypt after interpreting the King’s dream- 7 years of plenty and 7 years of lack. Wisdom behind saving in good times to support in times of need. Book of proverbs- as a man thinketh so is he and many others that resonated.
I will not only read this book once but again and again. Happy Reading and thanks again Mizinga
Thank you for this recommendation!! This book is such a great read with real golden nuggets in there, as do all his books. One thing i appreciate is how this book is so relevant to the times. This period sent most of us to a slump and it hasn’t been easy but the book made me realise that it’s what i do when I’m in the “valley,” that will determine my peak.
Maybe it’s his B.A in psychology but the author really knows how to appeal to the child in you by exposing all your emotions, it’s interesting and also soothing to know at the end of the day we all go through peaks,plateaus, and valleys.
Warmest thanks for this book recommendation.
Apart from being a page turner, this book is so relevant to the times, it equips all of us with the tools we overlook in our “quest ” to succeed, some tools as subtle as just resting commonly referred to as a plateau in the book..the author has a way with words which appeals to the better part of you and instantaneously makes you want to make a difference..i love it!
One thing I’m certain of this is not the last time I’m reading it..
Warmest thanks for this recommendation.
Thanks for this book,i have fallen in love with Spencer Johnson ‘s books.Such great reads
I feel encouraged.
Especially that am at the lowest stage in my life.
Thank you