Peak Experiences Increase Thriving
Happiness is a short-term state of pleasure. Thriving is a long-term condition that involves finding purpose, pursuing goals, and sustaining relationships. People who thrive are happier and healthier, and they live longer.
Scientists at the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies at Claremont Graduate University study the basis for human decisions. After 20 years of measuring neurochemicals in blood, and the neural signals carried by those chemicals, they discovered the brain network that values social-emotional experiences. They named it the Immersion Network because people become immersed in peak experiences.
The Immersion Network in the brain is driven by two neural responses facilitated by two neurotransmitters. To experience immersion, a person must be fully present (mediated by dopamine) and experience emotional resonance (mediated by oxytocin). Dopamine focuses attention, inspires motivation, and creates meaning. Oxytocin promotes social bonds and trust.
Emotional resonance is the capacity to connect with others on a deep emotional level. It entails understanding other’s emotions and responding with empathy so that they feel seen, heard, and valued. Emotional resonance skills include being present, listening carefully, and seeking to understand. Your most successful personal relationships feature emotional resonance. In a professional setting, emotional resonance is how you foster empathy, collaboration, and trust.
After the discovery of the Immersion Network, the research team created an app that worked with smart watches and fitness wearables to measure how well over 50,000 study participants were thriving. The researchers discovered that by analyzing peak immersion experiences, they could predict whether people were happy or sad, and whether they were high or low energy, with 98% accuracy. When they analyzed the number of peak experiences that were necessary to maintain a positive mood and resilience in the face of setbacks or negative experiences, they found it was six peak experiences per day.
Takeaways:
This lengthy research demonstrated that to thrive, people must have six peak immersion experiences per day that last 3 minutes or longer. It also illuminated what people love to do and who they most enjoy being with. To enhance thriving:
Invest in Relationships – make time to be with your special people
Consider Volunteering – serve others, and you may discover additional special people
Celebrate Others – honor the accomplishments and joys of your special people
Practice Virtues – hone ideal qualities and attributes, such as integrity and humility (see virtues lists under Sources)
Act on your Purpose – identify and implement your life’s purpose
Get a Dog – interacting with dogs increases oxytocin and decreases stress hormones. People with social anxiety can enhance their Immersion Network and dogs can act as social lubricants, facilitating the formation of new relationships.
Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.
My book, The Legal Brain: A Lawyer’s Guide to Well-being and Better Job Performance, is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
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Sources
Paul J. Zak, How Brain Activity Can Reveal What Makes You Thrive, Greater Good Magazine, Mar. 4,2025.
Vinita Vyas, The Art of Emotional Resonance: A Critical Chapter in the Manual of Your Life! | by Vinita Vyas | Medium, Nov. 3, 2023.
Debra Austin, The Legal Brain: A Lawyer’s Guide to Well-being and Better Job Performance 60-61 (2024).
David G. Allan, Ben Franklin’s ‘13 Virtues’ path to personal perfection | CNN, Mar. 1, 2018.
Virtues List - Virtues For Life
Scott Jeffrey, List of Virtues: A Master List from Ancient Traditions, Jan. 29. 2025.
The SIX app.
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