The Power of Flow

The lone peak of a mountain is a beautiful site to behold and a mystical experience all on its own. It is easy to be enthralled by the perpetual beauty of the peak, and lose yourself in it as you look to the snowcapped crest and yearn for the feeling of reaching such an extraordinary place. As it reaches to the sky with both hands fully extended, it represents a land of self-mastery and beauty that seems closer to the heavens than to us. We stare up from the ground and ponder what life would look like at the top and how it would feel to be in such a surreal place. We worship its elusiveness but also desire to be there. In the same sense, we desire self-actualization and greatness within ourselves but believe it is beyond us just like the lone peak of a mountain. We praise the talents of those that have reached their peak, our role models, and proclaim them as god-given, without realizing the same power lies within each of us. For instance, we watch in awe as a pianist plays a beautiful melody of notes sending vivid images of warmth and comfort to our mind's eye, but believe we could never do the same. We watch in awe as an artist meticulously strokes at the canvas creating a perfect balance of colors to bring life to a still page, but believe we could never do the same. The point is everybody has the ability to create and reach a level of mastery they never thought truly possible. To reach the peak you must be willing to put in the work but also be willing to tap into the endless reserve of the here and now. The ability to tap into the moment and allow the dissolution of time allows for synchronization between body and mind. Many people refer to this phenomenon as the "flow state" and is an outlet many high performers tap into to reach their peak.

The flow state is described as a state of complete focus and immersion into an activity. While in flow, people experience a laser-like focus and involvement in what they are doing. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a positive psychologist, describes the flow state as a place of mind where "The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost (WIRED). Some of the characteristics of flow are as follows; a distorted sense of time, a loss of self-consciousness, a lack of awareness of physical needs, and a complete focus on the activity at hand. It is important to note that you don't have to experience all of these factors, rather the experience is different for everybody. Many spiritualists refer to this phenomenon as living in the moment which allows one to relinquish the worries of the past and the future. Taking life one step at a time and remaining in the present, creates a sense of security and erodes any feeling of guilt or anxiety. Regardless of how you want to think about it, the benefits of heightened creativity and focus are certain.

There are a lot of benefits that arise from submerging in the depths of flow. For instance, there is a sense of clarity and concentration that is otherwise unattainable and helps power higher-quality work. Furthermore, it can lead to increased levels of happiness, fulfillment, and motivation as a result of being involved in an intrinsically rewarding endeavor. Being able to live in the moment and do something you are passionate about is an invigorating experience. Flow has also been shown to help improve learning and creativity. This makes sense considering that getting into flow takes a lot of effort and is an indication of mastery of a certain skill. To remain in flow you also have to keep challenging yourself and seeking new information which is how it assists in learning and creativity. There is a lot of debate on what happens within the brain to achieve this state and although there is uncertainty, there are 2 popular theories. The Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis theorizes that the flow state induces a decrease in the activity of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is involved in self-consciousness and the decrease in activity can explain the loss of self-consciousness and warped sense of time. The Synchronization Theory hypothesizes that the flow state allows the different regions of the brain to communicate more efficiently. This could be explained by an increase in frontal cortex activity which is responsible for higher thinking (verywellmind). We might not be 100% sure how the flow state affects the brain, but it is as beneficial as it is mystical.

The flow state is not easily attained and it takes effort to get into the state. Here are some tips to help allow you to more readily get into the flow state. First, it is important to do an activity that you love and is a source of passion. This will provide your mind with the motivation to accomplish challenging tasks. Second, create a ritual to hardwire your brain to easily enter flow. By completing the same ritual prior to the activity, your brain will associate the ritual with entering the flow state. For example, you could take a short walk or listen to one of your favorite songs before the activity. Third, choose your most important task to do. Choosing a large task requires using a lot of brain processes and ensures focus. Fourth, identify your most productive times. For most people, this is in the morning, but choosing the best time increases the likelihood of getting into this heightened sense of focus. Lastly, eliminate all distractions. Control your environment as much as possible to establish a distraction-free zone. It would be best to put your phone away or put it on "do not disturb" (headspace). These are some of the best tips to get into the flow. I hope you enjoyed this blog and maybe learned a little something about the power of flow.