Peak experiences - Rediscover your wonder

I recall being on a mid day flight back home after another bi-weekly multi-state customer visit. I recall being tired but optimistic for the weekend, since I used my laptop "aircard" to submit all my admin for the week during the four hour layover. Aircard - look them up.

I would routinely visit the airport lounge to catch up on Sportscenter, while slurping down company card adult beverages and high calorie food options. Life was good.

But over the years, I began to notice something: The most accomplished people I've had the opportunity to converse with both in the lounges and in the air were all miserable. Most were on their second or third spouse, had non existent relationships with their children, and ultimately, engaged in self destructive activities such as extramarital affairs and substance abuse to escape the omnipresent pressure of immense responsibility and shareholder expectation.

I would often ogle at their expensive watches, premium luggage and tailored attire. However, I don't recall ever witnessing these individuals smile, engage in witty banter with their servers, nothing.

They'd become jaded with success, no longer able to appreciate the efforts of those attending to them, nor the ornate trappings of the room.

Eventually, I myself married and had two children. Looking back on those experiences, I took what now equates to a 80k base salary cut to work in a cube.

After living in the air 70% of the week, I wanted to become present for my children, who in turn provided me with a lifetime of peak experiences I will never forget, such as carpool. DON'T CUT THE LINE!

During this period, I faced a health challenge which landed me in the hospital for two weeks. With over 6 different IV bags and a battery of tests, my diagnosis served to change my outlook on life and the prospect of my own mortality.

Although I made a full recovery, this event forced me to appreciate life and seek out moments of joy, even in the midst of clouds and despair.

I currently live a great life, full of wonderful people, great experiences and beautiful things. However, I found that joy ultimately comes from within.

Doesn't matter the time or occasion, I attempt to find wonder and joy in the most inane objects and mundane situations. I marvel at things people typically ignore, such as architecture, design, the beauty of nature and the joy of children.

In my most successful post to this newsletter to date, I outlined Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs.

One of the key tenants of Self Actualization is Peak Experiences.

Maslow believed that peak experiences are essential to psychological well-being. They can help people feel more alive, creative, and fulfilled. They can also provide insights into oneself and the world, and motivate personal growth.These are classified as moments of intense joy, wonder, awe, or ecstasy, similar to moments of flow.

They can occur in response to a wide variety of stimuli, such as art, music, nature, love, or even intellectual achievement.

Peak experiences are often associated with a sense of unity and connection with something larger than oneself. People may feel more aware of themselves and the world around them, and experience a profound sense of meaning and purpose.

They can help people feel more alive, creative, and fulfilled. They can also provide insights into oneself and the world, and motivate personal growth.

Peak experiences can be particularly relevant to professional success in the following ways:

• Increased creativity and innovation: Peak experiences can stimulate creativity and provide new perspectives, which can be valuable in problem-solving and generating new ideas.
• Enhanced motivation and engagement: The sense of joy and fulfillment associated with peak experiences can increase motivation and engagement in one's work.
• Improved decision-making: The clarity and insight gained during a peak experience can help with making better decisions.
• Stronger leadership: Peak experiences can foster a sense of confidence and purpose, which can make one a more effective leader.
• Greater job satisfaction: Experiencing peak experiences in one's work can lead to a greater sense of job satisfaction and fulfillment.

It is important to note that peak experiences are not always easy to achieve. They often occur spontaneously and unexpectedly. However, there are some things that people can do to increase the likelihood of having a peak experience, such as:

Engage in activities that you are passionate about: When you are doing something that you love, you are more likely to become fully immersed in the activity and experience a peak experience.

• Be open to new experiences: Trying new things can expose you to new stimuli that can trigger a peak experience.
• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your surroundings and the present moment, which can make you more receptive to peak experiences.
• Spend time in nature: Nature has a way of inspiring awe and wonder, which can lead to peak experiences.

Ride a bike, hit the trail, have a movie night with your family. Eventually, you may even buy a ridiculously expensive steak wrapped in gold leaf and sliced by an internet meme celebrity.

Looking for the beauty in all things results in a cumulative sense of well being capable of contributing to a spectacular life, regardless of the rigid socio-economic norms which dominate our existence in this country.

Most of you driven professionals won't need a gold steak to provide the motivation for success, just use your innate spirit of wonder.

Hit me up in the comments and let us all know what you personally plan to do to make this YOUR week of wonder!

I can't wait.

Your Friend,

Dwayne