Running the Mount Baldy Bowl Trail Challenge | Mount San Antonio | San Gabriel Mountains | Angeles National Forest | California

Do you want to feel better, be happier, and healthier? The Feeling Better video episodes are daily habits and methods we can implement if our intention is to feel better, be happier, and healthier in a simple, fast, and sustainable way. Most of us struggle in these areas because we implement the wrong effort distribution to our choices.

We invest more than 90% on the visible — the physical — and the rest on the invisible. To succeed we must flip the effort distribution by implementing the key principle of PLW Life Coaching: prioritizing the invisible over the visible. We achieve it by investing at least 90% on the invisible and the rest on the visible or physical. The physical only serves as reinforcement.

In practical terms, this means investing at the mental level by cultivating healthy thoughts — and at the emotional level by embodying healthy behaviors and virtues. Healthy thoughts take root in healthy behaviors and virtues. Some examples of healthy behaviors are collaborating, taking responsibility, being honest, and being straightforward. Some examples of virtues are being a disciplined truth seeker, doing what we intend to do, and being specific in relation to our intentions.

The plan: To run the Baldy Bowl Trail from the San Antonio Falls trailhead to the summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) in 75 minutes or less. Total distance: 5.25 kilometers. Total elevation gain: 1,250 meters.

The Route: The route follows the Baldy Bowl Trail in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, California. Starting at the San Antonio Falls trailhead, the trail climbs past San Antonio Falls, then continues up to the Ski Hut, through the Baldy Bowl, and up to the summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) at 3,068 meters (10,064 feet) — the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Accepting reality is virtue number 3 of Pure Love World Life Coaching and the opposite of denying reality. It is a virtuous state of being that takes root in experimenting through trial and error. Accepting reality involves accepting facts and acknowledging the truth of an action, behavior, or situation regardless of the outcomes associated with accepting and dealing with them.

The biggest obstacles that prevent us from producing well-being are denying reality, rejecting responsibility, failing to do what we intend to do, and being dishonest about our flaws and toxic behaviors. Denying reality and rejecting responsibility are in the service of being dishonest about our flaws and toxic behaviors. Failing to do what we intend to do comes from a lack of discipline and commitment. Discipline is reflected in our ability to give ourselves specific instructions and follow them to the letter.

The Challenge: To run the entire Baldy Bowl Trail from the San Antonio Falls trailhead to the summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) in 75 minutes or less — without walking a single step.

Running the Mount San Antonio Baldy Bowl Trail Challenge

We deny reality for four reasons. First, we deny reality to unconsciously or consciously deform it, making uncomfortable truths seem less harsh and avoiding the consequences of facing them. Second, we deny reality to protect ourselves from the consequences of being wrong. Third, we deny reality to avoid looking bad to others and ourselves, since admitting our mistakes prevents us from appearing perfect to the world. And fourth, we deny reality to avoid taking responsibility for the things we know we are wrong about — because fully taking responsibility requires us to work on ourselves.

Feeling well is only possible if we are honest with ourselves about what is holding us back: the embodiment of toxic behaviors and flaws, because they produce ill-being, making us feel unwell. Can we find a solution to our problem if we are dishonest about the problem? No. It is like trying to drive a car with flat tires while insisting that the windshield wipers are the problem. We cannot move forward or reach our well-being destination if we deny the real cause of our stagnation.

Feeling better episode 8 – Accepting reality produces well-being

Winter Storm at the Summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains | California

Above the Baldy Bowl Facing the Devil's Backbone During a Winter Storm | Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy)

Trees at sunrise on the Baldy Bowl Trail | Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains

Purple Sunrise at the Summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains

Icy Winter Conditions at the Summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains

Icy Winter Conditions on the Baldy Bowl Trail | Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains

Winter Storm Sunrise at the Baldy Bowl | Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains

Isn't it strange that most people can easily solve simple problems outside themselves — like fixing a car or repairing a roof leak — yet fail when it comes to what matters most in life: their own health and well-being? Why is that so? They deny reality because accepting reality requires too much effort.

Accepting reality begins with accepting the truth. We can only produce well-being by implementing the right effort distribution. We invest over 90% on the invisible and the rest on the visible, which only serves as reinforcement. How do we get to that conclusion? Primarily through virtue number 5: experimenting through trial and error, and virtue number 6: being honest about one's problems and flaws.

Walking the Baldy Bowl Trail Toward the Summit of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) | San Gabriel Mountains