Zone-In for Peak Performance & Lasting Motivation

You may be familiar with the term ‘the zone’ and ‘being in the zone.’ The zone, also referred to as flow, is a desirable state that fuels peak performance and lasting intrinsic motivation.

What’s possible in ‘the zone’?

When you are in the zone you are taking on something bigger that aligns with your passions and purpose. Steven Kotler, in his book ‘The Rise of Superman’ describes the zone as “a radical state of consciousness where the impossible becomes possible.”  You are able to move beyond your comfort zone, get out of a stuck place, try something new, and achieve higher levels. In other words, it’s your possibilitarian in action.

Try this: Peak Experience

Think of a peak experience in your life. A time when you were at your best…when you felt completely jazzed and everything was in sync. Close your eyes. Get back into that moment. Visualize it in your mind. What were you doing? How did you feel? What did you accomplish? What was important about it? Why did it matter? What was possible for you in that moment? Really take it in. Feel back into the experience. That’s a glimpse of the feeling of being in the zone.

During a peak experience the individual experiences an expansion of self, a sense of unity, and meaningfulness in life. The experience lingers in one’s consciousness and gives a sense of purpose, integration, self-determination and empathy. ~ Abraham Maslow

Does that ring true for you? Did you notice a shift in your energy just by thinking about your peak experience? What if you were able to influence having more peak experiences?  Being in the zone. In flow. What would then be possible?

The Starting Point for Getting Into ‘The Zone’

You’ll find many methods and ideas for getting into the zone. The starting point however requires knowing where you want to focus your energy. If you don’t already know, then the discovery process necessitates going inside to figure it out – what’s important to you, your values, passions and purpose in life – and then focusing your time and attention there. You need to literally ‘zone-in’ to harness all your internal resources towards an accomplishment that stretches the limits of what you know.

You figure out your starting point, identify an end point or target, and then stay the course, figuring out the path as you go. And not give up after the first stumble. Key here is knowing why your end point matters. To you. That feeds a sense of fulfillment which fuels further possibility.

Contrary to what most of us believe, happiness does not simply happen to us. It’s something that we make happen and it results from doing our best. ~ Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi

In his research on the Flow state, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi determined that the happiest people, the ones who felt their life had the most meaning, actively sought out experiences that “involved painful, risky, difficult activities that stretched the person’s capacity and involved an element of novelty and discovery.”  Think back to your peak experience of a few minutes ago. It likely involved having a new experience or level of accomplishment. And it felt good didn’t it? 😍

Focus Your Energy To Expand Your Comfort Zone

Clarity of target is important as a starting point for focusing your energy. However clarity is also a dynamic process meaning you become more clear as you begin down the path towards your accomplishment or destination. There’s a reciprocal relationship that happens where your accomplishments from getting into ‘the zone’ feed your desire to continue to improve which further enhance your performance while in ‘the zone’. Your ability to get into ‘the zone’ is also enhanced. The process enables you to keep moving farther, taking more risks, expanding your comfort zone. The bonus: You are happier and more fulfilled.

How has being in ‘the zone’ enabled you to expand your comfort zone? Please share a peak experience in the comments below.