Stuck in a rut? Feeling trapped? Lost and uninspired? Here’s how to get more flow in your life and break free from limitations.
From a quality-of-life perspective, psychologists have found that the people who have the most flow in their lives are the happiest people on earth.
Steven Kotler
Flow state is an optimum state of consciousness where we feel and perform our best. When we’re in flow, we are focussed and fully engaged. Our minds are clear and our actions fluid.
We are the best version of ourselves.
We’ve all experienced this state at times in our lives but flow is something we should experience often. It shouldn’t be rare or reserved for the blessed few.
Our energy, motivation, peace of mind, happiness, self-confidence and quality of life are all positively impacted by the frequency and intensity of flow experiences.
There are peak experiences that happen when all the conditions are right, but there are also everyday experiences that make our life worth living.
Here’s how to get more flow in your life and enjoy a higher state of being.
Remove the stick
Many people live their lives with a stick up their bum. They do as they’re told, follow the rules and take things very seriously. Firm and inflexible in their thoughts and behaviours, they never allow themselves to let loose and just go for it.
Maybe that’s you, or maybe someone you know but it’s no way to live. The best things in life come to those who are bold, creative, agile and adventurous.
Allow yourself to breath, to move and to think freely. Go after the things you want, cultivate the things you’re good at and amplify those positive feelings and emotions. If you remove the stick that holds you in this rigid state, you invite flow into your life.
Breath consciously
When we breath consciously, slowly and deeply, we bring more oxygen into our body and move from a state of anxiety to a state of calm. Our thoughts settle, focus increases, heart rate slows and we become fully present.
This relaxed state has many health benefits but it also allows us to focus better on important skills and tasks. Whether we are writing code or playing a game of football, conscious breathing helps us to get in the zone and stay there longer.
Practice meditation, breathwork, or simple breathing exercises daily to develop the skill.
Move daily and dynamically
The human body is designed for movement. Pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, bending, twisting, throwing and running, we can and should do it all.
Whenever we limit our range of motion, or stay in one posture for too long (sitting at a desk) the stiffness sets in. And that stiffness is adopted by mind as well as body. It becomes us.
Create flow by moving your entire body through a full range of motion everyday. You can vary the activity (martial arts, yoga, surfing, weightlifting, mobility), intensity and volume but make sure to move your body dynamically as often as possible.
This will have a positive effect on your energy, self-confidence and motivation.
Cultivate your strengths
It’s easier to reach a flow state when we’re doing things we’re good at. When competence and confidence are high, we can find that groove and it feels great.
When we do things we aren’t good at, on the other hand, we are all fingers and thumbs. It’s difficult to reach a flow state because we lack the focus, skill and fluidity to create the right mind-body stimulus.
Our natural abilities show us which direction we should go in life and where our training and development should be focussed. Cultivate your strengths and you’ll enjoy far more instances of flow.
Slay the dragon
Peak experiences happen when the level of risk is high and there’s a lot on the line. If you’re after an intense flow experience that will change your life you’ll find it in adventure, extreme sports, and high-level performance.
Things like mountaineering, rock-climbing, and big wave surfing create that rush. As do competitive sports like football, basketball and tennis. Playing a guitar solo in front of a euphoric audience can do the same.
Anything at the extremes can produce an intense, hyper focused, time distorting mind-body response.
If this is something you want to experience, identify the dragon you want to slay and go after it. You may need to develop your skills and confidence over a number of years, but building up progressively and defeating your own Smaug will intensify your life.
Engage your creative self
When we think of flow state we typically think of the mountain top stuff. Those high octane experiences that live with us forever.
But there’s also a creative flow that artists, writers, musicians, designers, engineers and makers of things enjoy everyday. Any activity that requires skill and deep focus can produce a flow experience. And the more you practice, the better that experience gets.
I love writing, playing the drums and making music. They all play a role in my life. Creative pursuits like this balance out the competitive and financial pursuits and in many ways, are more rewarding.
What creative things do you enjoy? How can you make time for that today?
Find your flow
Once we reach adulthood our energy is easily lost. Passion makes way for the serious stuff. Action makes way for tapping on a keyboard. Life-affirming activities make way for the boring and the mundane.
And we wonder why we’re so stressed, anxious and miserable.
Yet we can still be responsible adults, and pay our bills, when living our lives in flow. In fact, we are more driven and productive when we’re in that state.
So get more flow in your life and never lose touch with that which gives you energy.
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