Ask Lewis: What is the State of “Flow”?

A tool for personal-development, personal growth, and self-improvement,

A flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one’s sense of time.

Much of my work as a business strategist which I love, includes the study of Flow. When I am exploring NLP, and even A.I. my brain shifts, so that I feel as if I am surfing even if it is just data surfing.

Flow, this experience of unique hyper-focusing was named by Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi, who with others began researching flow after Csikszentmihályi became fascinated by artists who would essentially get lost in their work. These artists, especially painters, got so immersed in their work that they would disregard their need for food, water, and even sleep. The theory of flow came about when Csikszentmihályi tried to understand the phenomenon experienced by these artists. Flow was so named because during 1975 interviews several people described their “flow” experiences using the metaphor of a water current carrying them along.

There Are Many Ways To Achieve A State Of Flow.

If you are artistically inclined you can achieve a state of flow if you:

1. write,
2. paint,
3. sculpt,
4. listen to music,
5. mow the lawn,
6. iron clothes.
7. dance
8. meditate
9. do tai chi or yoga
10. jog

To get the best results it is best to do this for at least a hour and a half.

Here is an anonymous poem I came across online about flow

Everything feels right.

I’m writing three times faster.

Ideas are flooding my head. They’re not stopping.

I’m not distracted by any voice, website, or itch.

I just am.

Empathy wraps itself around my thoughts.

I feel the emotion in each word.

I stare at the piece. It’s beautiful.

I read it over and again. Each word perfectly placed.

I believe in it.

For a brief moment, I feel a sense of meaning strong enough to make me cry.

I know people will love the piece. I know there’s a chance it might change someone’s life.

I know I’ve given myself to my art.

Many coders, and athletes claim that they achieve this state if flow consistently when they engage with what needs to be done

Here is how they describe the experience.

Coding: “It’s really hard to explain. When coding, you lose a sense of time. The problem feels solved even though it’s not. If you encounter any problem, you almost immediately know what to do. I don’t feel hungry at all when that happens. The longest I’ve been in this state has been roughly 8–10 hours, without feeling hungry and without feeling the need to go to the restroom. At the end of it, you feel exhausted, but strangely, really happy — as if you have achieved something. It’s a high that can get addictive at times.

Sports: I’ve witnessed a drastic improvement in hand-eye coordination and quick thinking. The frequency with which you hit the sweet spot is really high in this state. It’s as if you cannot do anything wrong. It’s just you and the game. It’s an incredible feeling when it happens.

So What are Other Aspects of Flow?

It is…

• the sound of the rushing water, that rang so clear in your ears, fades away.
• the view in front of you diminishes into the back of your mind.
• the motion of paddling the canoe as you slide into trance.

In all these states, you’re still awake, but upon reaching your destination you look at the time and wonder how this many hours have passed.

You only remember feeling at peace and feeling joy, but you were more asleep than awake.

Breath in, breath out.

You’re running along a very empty street through the woods.

The weather is warm, but fresh.

You’ve been running this route for a while but today is different.

As you stop focusing on the pain in your legs and the other thoughts in your head the concrete begins to feel softer and softer.

The line of trees becomes something you notice but aren’t aware of anymore and even the music playing in your headphones becomes unconscious noise.

Suddenly, the tree line vanishes. You look around and notice that you are almost back home.

You’re sweating and exhausted, and do not truly know how you got here, but you did.

The alarm rings loudly.

With a groggy slump you shut it off and make your way out of bed; another day of work ahead of you…

You go through your morning routine half-heartedly and end up in your car mostly awake.

The roads are not as busy this morning and you drive to work lost in thought.

As you pull into the parking lot a thought crosses your mind: “Did I stop at that stop sign? Or did I just keep driving? I don’t remember!”

You think back and notice that you did not really remember noticing any pedestrians, stopping at any stop sign or even being aware of the color of the traffic light.

All of the above are examples of flow.

Everything falls out of your mind.

You do not feel the aches in your muscles, completely lose your sense of time, are not hungry or thirsty and will not even feel the need to use the bathroom at all.

Most people experience this while jogging long distances or playing video games for a large amount of time, but some even tap into this state when they work.

The more you get invested in what you are doing at the time the easier it will be to reach a true state of flow.

The problem, however, is that you never realize you are in a state of flow; you only realize it afterwards.

Noticing you are in a state of flow is contradictory to being in one.

If you are aware enough to notice your state of mind you are not flowing in the moment.

Therefore, you can never know when you are in the state, only when you have been in it.

Author: Lewis Harrison is the Award Winning author of over twenty books on personal growth. He is the former host of the show “What’s Up” on NPR affiliated WIOX FM in New York. He teaches seminars and speaks on personal development and life strategies thoughout the world.

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