When Taarak Mehta’s Jethalal aka Dilip Joshi recalled meeting Madhuri Dixit in a ‘surreal’ fan moment: ‘She was coming down the stairs’

“Up until that moment, I had only seen Madhuri ji on the big screen. It was the first time I was seeing her live. I couldn’t believe it. My first shot was with her. I have never been able to tell her how much I adore her,” Joshi told Rajshri in 2023.

Taking a cue from this interesting exchange, let’s understand how pinnacle or fulfilling life experiences leave a mark on our psyche.

While not everyone will meet their celebrity idol, everyone experiences their version of dream fulfillment — whether it’s a long-awaited achievement, an unexpected opportunity, or a meaningful connection. Recognising and honoring these moments enriches our mental landscape and contributes to lasting well-being, stressed Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist, life alchemist, founder and Director of Gateway of Healing.

She said that when actors like Dilip Joshi share stories of being starstruck while working with icons they’ve long admired, they’re revealing something profoundly human that resonates with all. “These pinnacle experiences—moments when long-held dreams suddenly materialise—create unique psychological states that can have lasting positive effects on our mental well-being,” said Dr Tugnait.

Fulfiling experiences are great (Photo: Freepik)

The brain processes these extraordinary encounters differently than everyday positive experiences. “During these rare moments, the brain releases an unusually potent cocktail of neurochemicals, including dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. This creates what we often call a “peak experience” – a moment of intense joy, fulfillment, and connection that can serve as an emotional anchor point for years to come,” described Dr Tugnait.

What makes these encounters particularly powerful is the element of personal narrative fulfillment.

When someone has admired someone from afar for years, creating mental scenarios of what meeting them might be like, the actual encounter becomes more than just a pleasant surprise as it represents the culmination of a personal story. “This narrative completion activates deeper brain regions associated with meaning-making and identity,” said Dr Tugnait.

Such moments also expand our sense of possibility. According to Dr Tugnait, after experiencing something once deemed unattainable, people often report a broadened perspective on what else might be achievable in their lives. “This psychological expansion can spark renewed motivation, creativity, and openness to new experiences,” said Dr Tugnait.

To maximise the benefits of these rare experiences, it helps to fully engage with them when they occur – being present, expressing authentic reactions, and later taking time to reflect on their personal significance. “Sharing the story, as Joshi did, further integrates the experience into one’s identity and extends its positive impact,” said Dr Tugnait.