OPTIMISM UNLEASHED - A DOGGED PURSUIT
Sneak peak at a chapter from my forthcoming book tentatively titled RUN THE HILLS - CODE OF THE HILLS.
OPTIMISM UNLEASHED - A DOGGED PURSUIT
The Chase
The morning sun hadn’t yet broken over the trees when my dog, Max, began his daily ritual. He sat at the sliding glass doors, ears perked, eyes locked onto our backyard. On schedule, a happy squirrel appeared, bouncing along the fence top. Max immediately spotted the little acrobat and his excitement built rapidly: first a whine, then a wiggle, until he popped up on his hind legs scratching at the door in a frenzy of excitement. As soon as I slid the door open, he exploded into the yard—a blur of fur and pure determination—charging toward his target.
He didn't catch the squirrel. He never does. But to Max, that's beside the point.
Day after day, Max repeats the chase, undeterred by the odds. He isn't chasing success; he's chasing the process. There’s a kind of beauty in that—he doesn’t care if he fails. His world is about one thing: commitment to the chase.
In many ways, that dogged determination mirrors the philosophy required to achieve our greatest goals and overcome our greatest obstacles. Success in life isn’t about the guarantee of catching the prize but about the willingness to pursue it with relentless focus, regardless of how many times we fall short.
The Power of Optimism Bias
So what drives this unyielding persistence? Cognitive neuroscientists like Tali Sharot have explored the concept of optimism bias—the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes, even in the face of slim chances. This bias is seen in around 80% of the population and is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past.
For example, despite divorce rates being around 40% in the Western world, newlyweds often estimate their own likelihood of divorce at 0%. This highlights a common tendency to underestimate personal risk compared to known statistics.
In the U.S., only about one-third of small businesses survive beyond five years. However, 80% of small business owners believe their business will be among those that succeed, demonstrating a significant optimism bias in entrepreneurial ventures.
Optimism bias allows us to attempt things that seem impossible, fueling us with confidence that we’ll succeed, even when rationality suggests otherwise. It explains why some people push forward, despite past failures. However, this mental bias has its downsides, as it can sometimes lead us to ignore risks. But when balanced with persistence and adaptability, optimism bias becomes a powerful motivator.
The science is clear: Optimism bias is linked to lower stress levels, higher resilience, and even better physical health outcomes. When we believe things will work out, we’re more likely to put in the effort to make them happen. And once we do, our chances of success increase. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Extraordinary Feats Fueled by Optimism
Throughout history, there have been countless examples of individuals who pursued wild, seemingly impossible dreams with nothing but sheer optimism to propel them forward. These figures defied conventional wisdom and took on challenges that most believed couldn’t be done. Let’s check out a few examples.
Sir Edmund Hillary
The Impossible: Summit Mount Everest
In the early 20th century, Everest was deemed unconquerable due to its brutal conditions, with many experienced climbers perishing in the attempt. In 1953, Hillary, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first to reach the summit, showing the world that what once seemed impossible could indeed be done.Roger Bannister
The Impossible: Break the four-minute mile barrier
Doctors and scientists claimed that running a mile in under four minutes was beyond human capability. On May 6, 1954, Bannister ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds, proving that human limits are often mental barriers, not physical ones.Felix Baumgartner
The Impossible: Freefall from the stratosphere and break the sound barrier
Jumping from 128,000 feet and breaking the sound barrier was considered reckless and impossible. In 2012, Baumgartner completed the jump, reaching speeds of 843 mph and defying what many thought the human body could endure.Diana Nyad
The Impossible: Swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage
After four failed attempts and at age 64, Nyad’s dream was believed to be unachievable due to dangerous waters and extreme currents. On her fifth attempt, she swam 110 miles, proving that perseverance in the face of repeated failure can lead to triumph.Alex Honnold
The Impossible: Free solo climb of El Capitan
El Capitan’s 3,000-foot vertical rock face had been climbed before, but never without ropes or safety equipment. In 2017, Honnold completed the first-ever free solo ascent, demonstrating what’s possible with unwavering belief and preparation.Aron Ralston
The Impossible: Survive by amputating his own arm to escape death
Trapped in a remote canyon with his arm pinned by a boulder, Ralston faced certain death unless he amputated his own arm. After six days, he did the unimaginable, amputating his arm and hiking to safety, embodying the relentless pursuit of life.
Applying the Lessons to Run The Hills
What each of these extraordinary individuals had in common was not just a belief in their dreams, but a deep sense of optimism bias. They had no concrete reason to believe they would succeed. No one had ever done what they set out to do. But they kept going—just like Max chasing the squirrel.
In the Run The Hills framework, the hill represents your challenge—whatever stands between you and the version of yourself that you’re striving to become. Success doesn’t always mean reaching the summit on the first try. Like Hillary, Nyad, or Bannister, it’s about attacking the hill with unyielding belief that you can—and will—overcome it.
The Code of the Hills Applied: Relentless Pursuit
In the Code of the Hills, one of the foundational elements is Relentless Pursuit—showing up day after day, running toward your challenges with everything you have. It’s this dogged determination that creates real growth. Running the hill isn’t about sprinting to the top; it’s about attacking the incline, knowing that the process itself is where you become stronger.
When you approach life’s challenges with a dog-like mentality, failure is no longer a barrier—it’s part of the journey. Each attempt brings you closer to success, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. The Run The Hills framework is about learning from each ascent, adopting a forward-thinking mentality, and understanding that every hill you run builds your resilience for the next.
Takeaways and Actions
Now that you’ve seen how a simple chase can illustrate a powerful life philosophy, let’s break it down into actionable steps you can apply in your life:
Embrace the Chase, Not Just the Outcome: Enjoy the process of striving for your goals. Commit to the process every day. Make progress the goal rather than perfection.
Don’t Dwell on Past Failures: Whether you fell short yesterday or ten times before that, let it go. Adopt a short-term memory when it comes to failure, and approach each new attempt with fresh energy. What matters is your effort right now.
Harness Optimism Bias: Train yourself to believe in your success, even when the odds aren’t in your favor. Unrealistic optimism can fuel the persistence you need to keep going. It’s not about being naive—it’s about fostering the drive to run the hill one more time.
Stay Relentlessly Focused: Block out distractions and doubts. When you’re running your hill, be all in. Like Max, don’t hesitate or overthink the obstacles. Attack the challenge with everything you’ve got.
Make the Hill Your Purpose: In Run The Hills, the hill represents your chosen challenge. Your purpose is found in the effort you put into climbing it. Make the journey your goal, and let the pursuit itself be the reward.
As Max teaches us, there is power in relentless pursuit. Life’s hills are rarely conquered in one attempt. They require constant, focused effort. But with the right mentality, you can face each challenge with fresh determination, regardless of how many times you’ve tried before. Like Max running after the squirrel, you’ll find that it’s not about whether you catch it—it’s about the growth that comes from the chase.