5 Signs You’ve Reached Your Peaked

#3: You think you can plan your life.

I went on a date the other day with a guy who was in school with me. I wasn’t aware of this when I matched with him on Tinder, I had no clue who he was. But he recognised me.

Naturally, as this fact came up in conversation, we ended up reminiscing about our school days during the date — which was all well and good until he said those dreaded four words, “I miss those days.”

The red flags went off in my head, “Yeah, they were fun but life’s so much better now.”

“I don’t know — I think I peaked.” It’s a statement no one really wants to hear from a potential partner. And based off his expression it's not something anyone wants to admit to. However, the way he said it with acceptance rather than defeat made me believe he really had peaked. His honesty really would’ve been quite attractive had it been in a different context.

I wondered how he had come to that conclusion, though — what was it that made him realise that he had peaked? Were there certain signs that told him he had maxed out his potential already? Was I exhibiting any of these signs? Was I on the verge of meeting my peak? What if I already had?

We spoke on and the conversation that followed is what has led me to write this article. Here are the signs to look out for if you’re afraid that you’ve peaked.

1. You believe that you’ve peaked

Reaching your peak is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think that you’re meant to peak or have peaked at a certain stage in life, chances are you will.

My date told me he believed that your school years are your best years and therefore, it’s inevitable that he peaked during them — they had to be the days he lived his best life and achieved his greatest accomplishments. His conviction was enough to make it true.

He believed he had peaked so he was subconsciously holding himself back from other opportunities. It was almost as if he wanted to protect that period of his life and return to it when he needed a pick-me-up.

2. You’ve given up

Which leads me on to the second sign that you’ve peaked — you’ve given up. You don’t want to try to achieve more.

Despite how unlikely it is for anyone to make their biggest accomplishment before they’re 18, my date claimed that he had and there was no point in trying to top it. Otherwise, he’d just end up disappointed.

Realistically, however, he probably will accomplish more throughout life but only if he allows himself to. If he isn’t willing to take and make opportunities — if he doesn’t put the same effort into his life that he did in school — then he truly he did peak back then.

You can only get what you give and if you’re not giving it your best then don’t expect the best results.

3. You think you can plan your life

One of the things that really struck me during our conversation was how my date was somewhat satisfied with the fact he had peaked. It worked with his life plan.

He had everything set out — he’d had his fun in school and now it was time to meet someone, get married, start a family and spend his days working a decent job and provide for said family. However, based on the fact he was still on Tinder and finding himself rather unsuccessful on it, he was falling behind on his plan.

Thinking that you can control life and decide when and how things are going to happen is only going to hold you back. It’s often when we step out of our comfort zone that we achieve success — sticking to the safety net of your predetermined life doesn’t provide you with the benefits and potential that flexibility does.

4. You believe happiness is linear

My date was happiest during his school days — therefore he claimed it was his peak. If this was the case though then I would have peaked when I was a toddler. If happiness was linear we probably all would’ve peaked as children.

Life is full of ups and downs. The time that you feel your happiest is not necessarily going to be the time that you peaked. With hardships and struggles can come greatness. Not only that, the tough times often come hand in hand with a more satisfying life overall, full of richness and value that warrant enduring and overcoming the low points.

Believing that happiness is linear may cause you to not fully appreciate the life you lead following your ‘peak happiness’. You think you’ve experienced the best point of your life because it was when you felt the most care-free and happy — all the good that happens after is blindsided by your struggles.

Happiness isn’t linear, but in thinking that it is you’re inherently prevented from feeling it.

5. You’re dead

At the end of the day, as bleak as it may be, there is only one true indicator that you peaked — you’re dead. There had to have been one point in your life that you were at your best and you’ll never get any better than that because, you know, you’re dead.

Yes, the guy I was on a date with believed that he had peaked and was setting himself up on the trajectory that would lead to future disappointment. But people change — we grow, we develop different outlooks and perspectives.

There’s no way you can really know you’ve reached your peak unless you’re dead. You may feel like you have but you could feel an entirely different way the very next day. As long as you’re alive, you can accomplish amazing things — you can’t really know you’ve peaked until you no longer have this ability.

The Takeaway

So, in conclusion, there isn’t actually any way you can know for certain that you’ve reached your peak. You may have decided you have but that can change with time.

Peaking, in reality, is just a mind over matter situation. The signs listed above aren’t solid evidence — set in stone rules — that you have peaked. They’re signs that you’re in the mindset that you have peaked.

So, if you really are worried about peaking then focus on changing your mindset more than anything else. Take life as it comes and enjoy it. Keep working towards building a better future rather than trying to compete with the past.