Lesson 6: Climb to the Annual Peak

Why?

One of the unchanging laws of health is that the healthy make time to escape from the world, from business, from recreation, and even from family to climb to the most elevated peak of mental and physical health possible for that person. In the process, a spiritual health will also be found.

Why?

Because it’s hard to tune a car while it’s driving down the interstate. And it’s hard to refocus on what to do and to renew strength to do when you’re busy doing.

So, you can take a few minutes to make a do list to help you climb the ladder. But, at least once a year, and no more than once a quarter, the most healthy and the strongest, take a day or a few days to make sure the ladder is against the right wall and to renew strength for the climb. Then with that knowing, they go back to climbing the ladder with more purpose, more strength, and more joy (even when there is pain), and more peace (even when there is sorrow).

What?

As a child, I did not know who Thoreau was or that he had written of the process (which I will give to you on this page) that he used to find the wall on which to rest his ladder–to find the peak. I did know, even then, even as a child, that I would sometimes feel less healthy and less connected.

Whatever scripture you read–I think you will find that the most connected spiritual heroes occasionally separate from the world to become closer to Something not of this world–to climb to their Peak.

So the thing I want to show you is how to find your Peak–the Annual Peak, from which you gain vision, strength, and health. Then use your daily routines to maintain that peak as much as possible while knowing you must eventually stop and do this process again.

As a child, less cluttered by the desires and scars and failures of a grown man, the method I used was simple: I would walk through the forest most of the day (for as many days as it took), reading scripture at night; then I would simply find peace by almost walking through it and so bathing in it somewhere in the forest. Then from that peak, I enjoyed a calmness and strength that carried me (with less involved daily and weekly practices) through the year.

As a man with sons of my own and things I feel called to do, and with poisoned arrows aimed my way, the clutter and chatter make finding my way back to that peak a more complicated–but not much more.

Here’s the annual process that I use now (the same process used by those stronger than me) that will take you to your peak of mental and spiritual health.

How (7 Steps)

1. Make a Time and Place

As a child, I would go through the discipline of finding the peak during the Christmas break. Then, when I did not need to go to school, I could find a few days alone in the forest, and it prepared me for the holiday.

Now, as an adult, the weeks leading to Christmas are very busy. But, my sons leave to spend time with their mother and I am left alone for a few days after Christmas. Patients are less needful during this time as well. So, the two or three days starting at lunchtime on Christmas day are best for me.

I have also made time by simply taking a long weekend in a hotel room in a place where I can easily be alone and there is a place to walk.

A tent in the forest for a few days also works.

The main thing is that for 2 to 3 days there are no people, little phone, no movies or television, no magazines, nothing but the writings that you think allow you to drink most deeply from the most unpolluted thoughts.

2. Fast

I know the word, “fast,” is a true 4-letter word that scares or offends many people as much as any other. But, it’s only been practiced for a few thousand years. I can look back as far as scripture goes and find it recommended. And I can also look in the best seller of today, The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman, and find it recommended as a way to find superior health.

So, perhaps, it’s worth doing? And, it’s easiest to do an extended fast when alone.

Here’s a quick study on fasting that inspired Jack LaLanne as a child and inspired and instructed me most of my life: The Miracle of Fasting: Proven Throughout History for Physical, Mental, & Spiritual Rejuvenation.

A simple method, is to make supper your last meal (so you do not go to bed hungry) and then have nothing with calories until the next night at the same time. Drink plenty of fluids and do not change the amount of caffeine that you drink–simply make sure you get no calories from whatever you’re drinking.

If you’ve never fasted, then 24 hours is plenty. But, for the yearly peak, eventually, you’ll want to extend it to around 3 to 5 days.

“Fasting” by simply not eating chocolate, or giving up your favorite food, does not work as well. Not even juice fasting works well for the yearly peak. I’m talking about ZERO calories.

Don’t worry about losing strength. Lions fast. Vince Gironda and other muscle men have taught periodic fasting as a way to GAIN strength.

And of course, spiritual leaders have taught it as a way to gain a different kind of strength.

3. Walk

Do prophets walk because they are prophets or do they become prophets partly because they walk? There’s walking and then there’s Walking.

You will understand more by reading this short essay by Thoreau on walking. If you read nothing else this year, in an effort to become healthier and to reaching your annual peak, download (for free) and read this essay by Thoreau on Walking.

It would also help to listen to this free recording by me on walking (you probably have this already, but re-listen to it as part of the process of finding the annual peak)…

Here’s even more on walking and some of the people who walked<–click<–

4. Read Great Thoughts

Go as far up-stream as you can, to the headwaters where the thoughts are as close to pure as humanly possible, where love and courage and wisdom are least diluted. Then read not as much for information as for synchronization with the Mind from where thought originates. If the person who wrote what you are reading did not own a television, wondered the desert, and died for his beliefs–that’s a clue that you’re close to the headwaters and maybe reading the appropriate words.

5. Pray and Meditate

Here’s a wonderful introduction to meditation: Master Guide to Meditation and Spiritual Growth

Here’s a guide (a free download) to prayer: How to Pray.

6. Write what you see while connected.

Here’s a guide to making a journal (which can be a form of prayer): The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook: Your Personal Companion to How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

7. While Writing, Make These 6 Lists

1. What is the one thing most needed to be done today (if not done your family and your business will suffer)?
2. What do you get to do for fun? What re-creations bring you the most pleasure?
3. What do you want to see done over the next 3 to 10 days?
4. What do you want to see done over the next 30 to 365 days?
5. What do you want to see done over a year from now?
6. Of the lists above, what are the most significant contributions you can make?

These lists have been said by many thinkers in many ways, but the most recent and helpful version I have read was here: The 168 Hour Week: Living Life Your Way 24-7

Summary

Climbing once a year to once a quarter to your peak mental, spiritual, and physical health through a day to three days of disciplined practice will make the year better in many important ways.

This practice, of finding that peak, has been taught by thinkers of every religion for centuries and usually involves these 7 practices:

1. Isolate.
2. Fast.
3. Walk.
4. Read.
5. Pray.
6. Write.
7. Plan.

So, there you have it, Map of the 7-Steps to your Peak. You can keep the momentum by studying this: The Law of Health: 10 Essential Steps to Glorious Health & Miraculous Healing.

Thank you for your attention to this map, I’m honored that you have looked at it. Please keep me updated about your progress.

Peace & health,

Charles
Charles Runels, MD

1-888-920-5311

This is one of a series of lessons in the Law of Health: 10 Essential Steps to Glorious Health & Miraculous Healing

©2009, 2020 Charles Runels, MD