When you read this title did you think of yoga? Yoga pushes “flow”, but flow is a much larger topic than some understand. Flow should apply to many aspects of our lives including work, hobbies, and the things we consider necessary.
What does going with the flow even mean?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who known for his work in positive psychology (yes, you’ll hear me talk about this quite often) gave this explanation.
It’s defined as when you’re so immersed in activity that your ego falls away.
Meaning you get so focused that everything you’re doing is surrounding that specific task. During this time, you’re not paying attention to distractions, what you need to do in the next hour, or the time. You’re just experiencing it. Sucked in. Enjoying it. You also feel a sense of mastery and get some reward in completing the task.
Some people experience this with sports, drawing, meditation, or cooking. Everyone can experience “flow”. You’re more likely to experience flow when the task is between difficult and easy. It requires complete attention and hopefully leads to you mastering whatever task you’re working on.
Why should you try to flow more often?
It’s simple… it leads to greater happiness over time. This is how “people feel alive”. They find more fulfillment in finding tasks that bring them gratification and pleasure.
For instance (on a smaller scale), some of us have that job where we check the clock every ten minutes? Is that flow? Are people satisfied? Generally they aren’t. They aren’t growing or learning. They are just there…
You may ask… What can I do to “trigger” more flow in my life?
There have been some hypothesis for what can trigger flow. Some of these include things that you may find surprising.
- Risk. YES danger. But only danger that you can turn into a challenge. This is where items like sports come into play. Don’t start putting yourself in dangerous situations trying to elicit “flow”. Outweigh the risk and benefit please.
- Change takes hold and you find something that sparks your interest. Follow that spark.
- As mentioned before: challenge versus skill. Finding a good balance where you feel like you’re excelling and achieving something great.
- Embodiment. Meaning it takes over your entire body. Full body awareness. Also, can take over all of your senses. Such as sports, scuba-diving etc.
- Cause and effect. As in cases when you can get feedback. It can elicit the work horse in you to arrive for possible benefit. Thanks boss.
So my challenge to you…
Go find things that captures your mind and spirit. Do things that you can get entrenched in to bring you happiness and fulfillment. What comes to mind when I ask these questions. Whatever pops up… follow it.
Talk soon,
Sarah and Sammie 😀
If you are interested in learning more…
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi wrote a book. Here’s the link if you want to know more.
