According to David Brooks people have a choice between TWO MOUNTAINS to climb that can shape their life. People on the FIRST MOUNTAIN spend a lot of time on reputation management. They are trying to win the victories the ego enjoys. This self-improvement technique usually consumes individuals starting out in their careers. Education prepares us for the FIRST MOUNTAIN. Some of the people that achieve this success have found it unsatisfying.

What happens to these individuals is that the ego is dissolved and the SECOND, MORE HIGH MOUNTAIN comes into view. The more appropriate passion comes into view when the desire for esteem is stripped away. The wish of the HEART, connecting with others, and the desires of the SOUL, the urge to ASSIST others or a cause become visible. Once you arrive on the SECOND MOUNTAIN you are more sensitive to the pains and JOYS of the world.

It is not about the self any more, it is about the giving yourself away. YOUR JOY IS SEEING OTHERS SHINE. The FIRST MOUNTAIN is about acquisition, the SECOND MOUNTAIN IS ABOUT CONTRIBUTION. Going from THE FIRST MOUNTAIN to THE SECOND MOUNTAIN is a moral renewal.

WE ALL MUST BE CONSCIOUS THAT LIFE IS A QUALITATIVE EFFORT NOT A QUANTITATIVE EFFORT. TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO LEAD WITH VULNERABILITY.

THE FIRST MOUNTAIN LEADS TO HAPPINESS, WHICH IS ONLY A MOMENTARY EXPERIENCE. ON THE SECOND MOUNTAIN WE ARE REWARDED WITH JOY, WHICH IS AN ENDLESS EXPERIENCE. JOY GOES BEYOND THE SELF.  CLIMB THE SECOND MOUNTAIN.

Categories: PERSPECTIVES Philosophical Perspective

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.