Challenge What You Do to Continually Perform at Your Peak

Being able to keep at one's peak is difficult for most people. Yet, if they understood the mechanics behind peak performance, then they'd be able to maintain or increase it.

In his book - 'FLOW', Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described the ability to remain in one's optimal experience is to engage in an activity that brings joy as well as enough of a challenge. If you are engaged in your favorite activity, but it becomes boring to you, then you are out of 'flow.' Which also takes you out of performing at your best.

'Flow' also known as "being in the zone" is way of letting you know that you are performing at your best. You are at joyous state at the time of flow. Michael Jordan would be in a constant state of flow when the game was on the line and he had the ball with a few seconds left. He rose to the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed it. Kobe Bryant comes close to what Michael Jordan did in accepting the same kind of challenge in a basketball game.

You can get into the same state of flow by giving yourself enough of a challenge, but not too much where anxiety develops. An example is when you exercise. If you are doing the same routine over and over again, then flow may eventually stop. You and your body need continued challenge for growth and joy. Mixing up exercise routines will bring some of that.

Work can do the same thing. Doing the same tedious work, day in and day out, brings about boredom and a lost of joy. Employers should think about how they can challenge the people that work for them that will bring the most joy without anxiety.

Find ways of bringing that state of flow into all aspects of your life - expecially those activities you enjoy the most. Challenge yourself for growth, okay?

Change Your Mind & Your Body

Fitness is for both the mind & the body. It never stops at one or the other. And they both affect each other. We see many people who focus only on one - whether it's the mind or the body - but not both. Eventually it'll cause a breakdown of both.

You are only as strong as your weakest link. So why not keep all your links strong, okay? In fact, health and fitness is about living a complete healthy lifestyle. It's your whole life, not just a certain period of time. I have many of my clients who say they don't have the time to workout or go to the gym. If you just take a look at the people of Okinawa, they don't have gyms either. Yet, they are among the healthiest and longest living people anywhere in the world. They live a healthy life. The use the environment as their workout. They garden. They focus on moving their bodies as much as possible.

It's the same with using the mind in keeping it fit. You can read books, do crossword puzzles, Sudoku, mind games, interact with other people, & so forth. I'm always studying something or taking classes. While I pursue my Ph.D. in psychology, I also plan on getting my masters in exercise science. Additionally, studying new languages helps to challenge other parts of my brain. Playing a musical instrument or doing artwork keeps the creative side of my brain working.

You can even do mind training and exercise together. Yoga or Tai Chi work both your body as well as creating a relaxed concentration. New exercises or workout routines also challenge the body and the mind. They are interconnected.

Have fun with what you do too.

Cheers,

Bob :-)