There's a reason leaders experiment with altered states...

Steve Jobs once said that taking LSD was one of the most important things he’d ever done. He credited it for expanding his consciousness and changing how he viewed the world.

This experience is known as “ecstasis”: a term that comes from ex statis in Greek (to step beyond one’s self). It refers to a range of altered states where our normal sense of self temporarily disappears and our mental performance sharpens.

You’re probably familiar with the concept of “flow”: that state when we’re fully engaged and focused. If we increase the time we spent in “flow”, workplace productivity would nearly double.

In the book Stealing Fire, authors Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal expand this definition of “flow” to include altered states induced by unconventional means, such as meditation, smart tech, psychedelics, etc. Using these practices to enhance our performance dates back centuries.

We see the world through tunnel vision. Our brains process millions of bits of information every second, but we’re only conscious of about 0.001% of it. Expanding our normal state of mind = being able to access a wealth of information that’s already stored within our brain.

This higher state of consciousness is defined by: Selflessness (when we tap into a “collective awareness”). Timelessness (when we lose track of time). Effortlessness (when everything seems to fall into place). Richness (when we make faster connections and have original insights).

Our understanding of how to reach states of “flow” has been boosted by developments in the fields of psychology, pharmacology, neurobiology, and technology. This data is increasingly being utilized by entrepreneurs to boost creativity within the workforce.

Activities like sex, extreme sports, meditation and, communal experiences like festivals can trigger neurochemicals (including serotonin and dopamine) that increase connectivity and openness.

But is pursuing altered states worth the risk of issues like addiction or mental instability? Kotler and Wheal believe that you can assess the value of any such activity by weighing up the time it would take and the reward it might yield against the risk.

TL;DR: Getting “into the zone” via altered states has become a popular way to unlock potential. But instead of becoming an escapist, the goal should be to expand your horizons just enough to solve real-world problems and make connections that you wouldn’t normally see.