Every mountain has a peak

    Every mountain has a peak
        What is the secret ingredient of tough people that enables them to succeed? Why do they survive the tough times when others are overcome by them? Why do they win when others lose? Why do they soar when others sink?
    The answer is very simple． It's all in how they perceive their problems． Yes， every living person has problems． A problem－free life is an illusion－a mirage¹ in the desert． Accept that fact．Every mountain has a peak． Every valley has its low point． Life has its ups and downs， its peaks and its valleys． No one is up all the time， nor are they down all the time． Problems do end． They are all resolved in time．You may not be able to control the times， but you can compose your response． You can turn your pain into profanity －or into poetry． The choice is up to you． You may not have chosen your tough time， but you can choose how you will react to it．For instance， what is the positive reaction to a terrible financial setback²? In this situation would it be the positive reaction to copout and runaway³? Escape through alcohol， drug， or suicide? No！ Such negative reactions only produce greater problems by promising⁴ a temporary solution to the pressing problem．The positive solution to a problem may require courage to initiate⁵ it． When you control your reaction to the seemingly uncontrollable problem of life， then in fact you do control the problem's effect on you． Your reaction to the problem is the last word！ That's the bottom line． What will you let this problem do to you? It can make you tender or tough． It can make you better or bitter． It all depends on you．In the final analysis， the tough people who survive the tough times do so because they've chosen to react positively⁶ to their predicament． Tough times never last， but tough people do． Tough people stick it out． History teaches us that every problem has a lifespan．No problem is permanent． Storms always give way to the sun． Winter always thaws⁸ into springtime． Your storm will pass． Your winter will thaw⁷． Your problem will be solved．

1 mirage   

n.海市蜃楼，幻景

参考例句：

• Perhaps we are all just chasing a mirage.也许我们都只是在追逐一个幻想。
• Western liberalism was always a mirage.西方自由主义永远是一座海市蜃楼。

2 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

3 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

6 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

7 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

8 thaws   

n.（足以解冻的）暖和天气( thaw的名词复数 )；（敌对国家之间）关系缓和v.（气候）解冻( thaw的第三人称单数 )；（态度、感情等）缓和；（冰、雪及冷冻食物）溶化；软化

参考例句：

• The sun at noon thaws the ice on the road. 中午的阳光很快把路上的冰融化了。 来自辞典例句
• It thaws in March here. 在此地化雪的季节是三月。 来自辞典例句