Extreme Athletes and the Art of Thriving

If there is a group of people that know how to thrive, it is extreme athletes. Their lives include all the key characteristics of self-actualization, happiness, and thriving. Why? Because they are stretching their capabilities, reaching for the moon, and loving the risk.

Extreme athletes can be called adrenaline junkies, but they are not careless. They include the ultimate preparations because their lives are on the line. Yet, they dare do things others would not attempt. Their preparation has given them confidence they will be successful.

The athlete that climbs rocks without ropes, the surfer who takes on 90′ waves, the skier that drops down sixty-degree slopes, and the mountain climbers that attempt 28,000′ summits all share some common characteristics. What can we learn from them?

When Our Work is Our Passion

Their work is their passion and their life. At a certain point most have sponsors and are supported in their efforts because they do things that are entertaining to film. They face death if they fail. They prepare every moment of the day. Their bodies are temples and they provide every possible edge. They feel they are making a big contribution to their sport and are giving inspiration to all the amateurs that enjoy the same sport at a safer level of engagement.

They all understand flow and are addicted to the feelings they experience while engaged. Their brain is stimulating all the happiness hormones and neurotransmitters to sustain and reward their effort. Normal life does not provide the stimulus they achieve while engaging in their passion.

Achieving Flow without Mortal Danger

Others achieve flow in their daily lives without the mortal danger. Speakers, actors, quarterbacks, teachers, surgeons, writers, and entertainers all move into a special state of being that delivers peak performances and fulfillment. Flow is engaging in an activity in which you have competence and shuts down the prefrontal cortex that judges or criticizes your performance. You are worry free.

This feeling is addictive. It is certainly why I return to writing every morning and most every day of the year. I never get tired of writing and I need to have it in my daily plan. I prioritize it and engage first thing in the morning when my energy is refreshed and high. I am also engaging before there are interruptions in my day.

Creating Your Life’s Priorities

If you want to make progress on a priority in your life, you need to follow the same steps. You need to make it a priority. You need to keep building your skills. You need to create the time block that allows interruption free engagement. If the activity is a contribution, your excitement will be greater. Challenge and risk should be key components because this is what stimulates the adrenaline.

How does this compare to your current life? Are you creating challenges and risks? You can get some of the adrenaline of extreme athletes and enjoy much more adrenaline than the person stuck in routines. You can make progress toward worthwhile goals. You can increase your contribution and value. Your life can be purposeful and meaningful. You will be thriving.

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As a Thriving Worker Consultant, I can engage in conversations with employers on how to begin the process of helping workers thrive and reach peak performance. It begins with a conversation to see how far an organization is willing to go to change the culture for workers.

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