‘Peak experiences’ are moments of perceiving reality in exquisite ways. It’s during these experiences that we have ground-breaking ideas. It’s in these moments that we can perceive with clarity our lives and make major decisions about it.
Peak experiences occur in environments of intense rest and recovery, such as a retreat. Most of us rarely have these experiences because we rarely find ourselves in such environments. We live in an addictive and reactive state, triggered by a negative routine and environment.
In such a setting, we go wherever life takes us. It becomes a random and unconscious evolution, like a ship without a sail. So how can we enter our ‘peak state?’
To have clarity about your life and goals, you need to give yourself a reset, regularly. That means scheduling time to unplug (completely!), recharge, and rest. You could begin to schedule ‘disconnected days,’ where you do just that. To make the process easier, it can help to leave your regular environment.
These days are there for thinking, relaxing, learning, and writing down whatever meaningful occurs to you. The reason you should get out of your environment is simple. To be able to see your life you need to step away from it for a moment.
To get into peak state, you can start by journaling about:
- appreciating everything happening in your life,
- reflecting on all life and relationship details,
- the people who matter to you,
- how far you’ve come, and what happened since your last recovery session.
Recording your history provides context to your ideas, goals, and plans.
In a peak state, you commit to making specific changes. What changes do you need to make to live up to your aspirations? What frustrations have prevented you from having done so in the past?
Strive to have such a journaling session once a week. The following prompts may inspire you to reflect and strategies:
Review the Past Week
- Reflect on what went well (“wins”)—tasks you accomplished, progress made, or personal highlights.
- Acknowledge what didn’t go well—missed opportunities, setbacks, or areas where you fell short.
- Note any significant events—memorable moments with friends or family, breakthroughs, or challenges.
Extract Key Lessons
- Identify the most valuable insights from the past week.
- Consider how you can apply these lessons to improve in the future.
Plan for the Coming Week
- Define your focus areas for the week ahead—what needs your attention and energy most.
- List specific to-dos for the week, covering key aspects like work, learning, relationships, fitness, and personal routines.
Align with Your Goals:
- Revisit your bigger-picture goals (your “why” and end vision) to stay motivated.
- Highlight your proximal goals—objectives you’re actively working toward over the next 1–6 months.
Set Intentions for Growth:
- Decide how you’ll use what you learned to improve—whether it’s adjusting your approach, creating new habits, or tackling specific challenges.
