Peak Life Design: Unlock Your Potential and Live with Purpose
Dr Leonaura Rhodes
Success and wellbeing... you can have both! I help high performers reduce stress & intentionally create more sustainable, fulfilling lives through coaching, speaking and training.
You may have heard I recently launched my new app Peak Life Design. Well, a year ago, I embarked on a quest with a branding guru for this app. We churned out possibilities, only to find most names already claimed. The perfect title remained elusive, a melody just out of reach. Then, one sun-dappled morning (much like today) while kayaking, it dawned on me: Peak Life Design.
This name stemmed from a core belief – that we, as humans, are capable of crafting intentional lives, lives brimming with purpose and passion. Yet, so many of us (dare I say, all of us at times?) fall short of our full potential. We might excel in one arena, yet others remain lacking. Peak Life Design embodied this duality – the unwavering belief that we can live with greater intention and design a life we love, a life that unlocks our true potential. It was the perfect confluence of these convictions.
In this article I’d love to share with you my philosophy on what a Peak Life is and what it is not.
A Peak Life: What it is not
A Peak Life is not a perfect life. While life has incredible potential it is also messy and chaotic. Striving for absolute perfection is an unrealistic goal. There will always be room for improvement, and aiming for an unachievable ideal can be a form of self-sabotage.
A Peak Life is not a stress-free life. As humans, we face constant challenges, and one of the few guarantees is uncertainty. Uncertainty and challenge can trigger stress. Some stress is biologically necessary to energize us and motivate us into action. However, severe or chronic stress can be harmful and rob us of joy and peace.
A Peak Life is not a life of compromise. When you consistently compromise you risk feeling resentment, lack of fulfillment, and that your life doesn't reflect your core values.
A Peak Life is not a life filled with regret. Regret acts like an anchor, constantly dragging you back to missed opportunities and past decisions. It can steal your joy in the present and paralyze you with fear in the future.
A Peak Life is not a life that is successful “on paper” but leaves you feeling hollow and unfulfilled. This can manifest as a lack of joy, motivation, and overall zest for life. It can also lead to a neglect of personal relationships and an identity crisis.
A Peak Life is not a life where you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Mistakes are inevitable, you are an imperfectly perfect human after all. I call the failure to learn from mistakes “personal ground-hog day” and it can be prevented by regular self-reflection and investment in personal growth.
A Peak Life is not a life filled with expensive stuff. In my magic wand survey where I ask “what do you want more of in your life?” physical stuff has not come up once in over 250 responses. More money has come up about 20 times, but I suspect that is to bring financial certainty rather than to go shopping. Steve Jobs once said “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me… Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful…that's what matters to me.”
What is a peak life?
A Peak Life is an authentic life. You are deeply self aware of things like your strengths, weaknesses, values and core beliefs. You pursue what excites you and live by your convictions, you tap into a wellspring of motivation and purpose. This then attracts those who value the real you, and fosters stronger, more meaningful connections.
Recommended by LinkedIn
A Peak Life is a happy life. A happy life is filled with positive emotions like joy, gratitude, excitement and peace. A quick caveat here. I am not talking about being giddy with happiness all day long, this is not realistic, everyone has their ups and downs. However, when you intentionally design your days around activities that spark joy and align with your values, a sense of purpose and contentment takes root and your life has an underlying tone of happiness and positivity.
A Peak Life is a healthy life. There is an Indian proverb: “A healthy man has a thousand wishes, a sick man only one.” A truth I can personally attest to as a physician and having faced being very sick on a couple of occasions. Your body is incredible and when it is well you have the physical energy to chase your dreams, the mental clarity to focus and achieve, and the emotional resilience to navigate life's challenges. With a strong body, you can experience the world more vibrantly, feel confident and capable, and radiate a sense of wellbeing that enriches every aspect of your journey. In order to be healthy you must nurture your body with “health assets” like a nutritious diet that fuels your energy, a regular exercise routine that keeps you physically strong, and energizing sleep and rest.
A Peak Life is an abundant life. While abundance may include financial wealth and material possessions for most people true abundance is being rich in the things that truly matter to you. It's a life overflowing with meaningful experiences, strong connections, and a deep sense of purpose. For example you may wish for an abundance of time with the people you love, an abundance of peace or an abundance of opportunities to help others.
A Peak life is a connected life. We humans thrive on meaningful connections. Prioritizing the nurturing of strong, reciprocal relationships will provide you with love, support, growth, shared experiences and a sense of belonging. This will require an investment of time, energy and attention. Of course relationships are also a source of heartache when they end and a source of stress when they are challenging. In a peak life, connection isn't about quantity, but about quality – a circle of cherished individuals who enrich your journey and make living your best life all the more fulfilling.
A Peak Life is a spiritually rich life. Spiritual richness is defined by your own spiritual compass. For some, it might involve following a specific religion or philosophy, finding solace in prayer or meditation, or experiencing a connection to a higher power. For others, spirituality might manifest in a deep appreciation for nature, a sense of awe at the universe's vastness, or a connection to something larger than themselves through creativity or artistic expression. By intentionally seeking spiritual experiences you cultivate a richness that transcends the material and brings a profound sense of peace and fulfillment to your journey.
A Peak Life is a resilient life. I have come to learn that challenges and loss are inevitable parts of life, but we can learn to bounce back from setbacks and challenges by becoming mentally resilient. Resilience allows us to manage stress, learn from experiences and continually grow. This could involve practices like mindfulness and gratitude to cultivate a positive outlook or developing healthy coping mechanisms to navigate stress. You intentionally surround yourself with supportive relationships that provide a safety net during challenging times. Resilience empowers you to navigate challenges with grace, learn from them, and ultimately emerge as a better, stronger version of yourself.
A Peak Life is balanced. While I don’t believe that perfect balance is feasible in this unpredictable world, I do believe that we should strive for a modicum of balance in the domains of life that matter most to us. You can consciously design a life where your physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, career aspirations, and personal growth receive the attention they deserve. This doesn't mean equal investment in every area every day, but rather a conscious effort to ensure none of these pillars are neglected for too long. A peak life isn't a rigid pursuit of perfection, but a vibrant dance between the various aspects that make you, you.
A Peak Life is an intentional life. It's the conscious difference between reacting to circumstance and actively crafting your ideal experience. While the mundane may have its place, a peak life prioritizes intentionality. You define what "best" means for you, what truly ignites your spirit and fosters fulfillment. This translates into setting goals, making conscious decisions that align with your values, and actively pursuing experiences that propel you forward. Instead of being swept along by the current, a peak life empowers you to grab the paddle and chart your own course, ensuring every day is a deliberate step towards living your absolute best.
In conclusion, a Peak Life isn't about chasing an unattainable ideal. It's about shedding the things that hold you back and embracing the intentional design of a life that resonates with your deepest desires. It's a life filled with authenticity, happiness, health, abundance, connection, and a deep sense of purpose. It's a life where you navigate challenges with resilience, find balance in the important areas, and actively pursue your best self. It's a life where you, with intentionality, chart your own course towards a fulfilling and extraordinary journey. This, my friends, is a Peak Life.
Leonaura Rhodes
Chief Life Designer