Summary

The article discusses the concept of "being in the zone," a state of focused concentration and authentic engagement where one loses themselves in an activity they love, exemplified through personal anecdotes and inviting readers to share their own experiences.

Abstract

The author explores the phenomenon of entering a flow state, known as "being in the zone," where individuals become deeply immersed in an activity to the point of losing self-awareness. This state is characterized by a heightened sense of freedom and authenticity, as described by Ken Robinson. The article references a definition from yourdictionary.com, emphasizing the mental state of focused concentration and dissociation from distractions. The author shares personal experiences of entering the zone while singing in church and praying, highlighting the sense of harmony, connection, and divine expression felt during these moments. The article also touches on the unpredictability of these zone moments and the importance of embracing them when they occur. Furthermore, the author extends an invitation to readers to reflect on and share what activities put them in the zone, encouraging a community dialogue on the subject.

Opinions

The author believes that being in the zone is not solely tied to skill or performance but is more about the depth of engagement and focus on the activity.
They express a sense of joy and rightness when in the zone, particularly during communal singing and praying, suggesting that these experiences are harmonious and fulfilling.
The author implies that being in the zone can occur during various activities, not just those one is skilled at, as evidenced by their enjoyment of singing despite acknowledging they are not particularly good at it.
There is an emphasis on the spontaneous and transient nature of being in the zone, advocating for the seizing of these moments when they present themselves.
The author values the feedback received from others about their prayers, indicating that it confirms the meaningfulness and effectiveness of their practice.
They suggest that writing about being in the zone can itself induce that very state, as seen in their passion while composing the article.
The article concludes with a quote from David Kudler, which likens being in the zone to a effortless ascent, further illustrating the effortless and uplifting nature of the experience.

Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt

Being in the Zone: Where we Lose Ourselves Doing Those Things We Most Love

What puts you in the zone? Can you describe how it feels?

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

One of the strongest signs of being in the zone is a sense of freedom and of authenticity. ~Author: Ken Robinson

I was in the zone today!

Most of us have heard that expression, being in the zone.

What does it mean, exactly?

While there’s a wide variety of working definitions for being in the zone, the one that most resonates with what I am getting it here is this one from your dictionary.com:

In a mental state of focused concentration on the performance of an activity, in which one dissociates oneself from distracting or irrelevant aspects of one’s environment.

Other definitions talk about skill and performance. But that’s not this. This is about when we lose ourselves and our sense of ourselves because we’re so deeply focused on what we’re going through. We’re fully engaged, all in, and completely absorbed.

And while that can and I’m sure often happens when we’re good at what we do, it ain’t necessarily so.

Take me for example.

I love to sing. And I kinda suck at it. But I get to sing along with the community songs at church. This month our song of the month is We Can Be Kind by David Friedman. Our vocalist sang the verses and we came in on the chorus.

There weren’t very many of us there today, but oh, the voices. So lovely. And the song was led in my very narrow vocal range. Such that when I sang, it sounded like I blended right in with the voices around me. I have no idea if that was true or if I was horribly off-key. It did not matter, I was in the zone. And it felt harmonious. I was part of that harmony.

Had I sat back and just listened, it would have been lovely but detached from me personally. I would have not described that experience as being in the zone.

When I Pray

It’s Sunday afternoon as I write this, and church filled me up today. The music, the talk, and the fellowship. But when it came time to pray, I stepped into my zone.

In this case, I can honestly say that I have a lot of experience praying out loud in front of people. I am a Certified Prayer Chaplain after all. The feedback I often get tells me that my prayers do what we need prayers to do. Help us connect with the Divine.

When I step up to the microphone, close my eyes, and launch into prayer, I often feel like it’s not me speaking. I do not prepare or memorize anything.

I may notice a particularly moving line from the song that just played and start my prayer by repeating the line and saying let’s breathe that in together. All of us breathing together may be part of the synergy that helps me get in the zone.

It feels like I receive the words right before I say them. One line at a time.

Maybe that’s cause I’ve done this a lot. But none of my prayers are rote. Each one is unique and seems to fit seamlessly at the moment. They often start soft and build. But just as often they can start strong and soften to an (amplified) whisper.

Moments later, I could t tell you what I said. But I could get up and pray again. It would be a completely different prayer. Perfect for the new moment I’m in now.

Most of the time, I feel the energy and love of the people around me while I pray. That fills me also. That love is part of what makes this an experience that I describe as being in the zone.

When the zone calls, you must listen.

You never know how long being in the zone lasts.

It is a cardinal rule — you must take advantage of every second that you are in the zone. ~ Author: John A. Passaro

Other Zone Moments

I’ve also had these moments writing, improvising, clowning, and during intimate talks with close friends or family. All sense of time stops. There’s just this moment and its fully unleashed expression. And it feels so right and so good and so full of YES!

Phew! Didn’t know I’d get so passionate about benign in the zone. Maybe that’s because I was in the zone writing about being in the zone.

But enough about me. It’s your turn.

Here’s this week’s Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt: What puts you in the zone? Can you describe how it feels?

Another way to think of it is–losing ourselves doing those things we most love. Whatever that is for you is fine. There’s no wrong answer here. Pick one zone experience and share it in a short form if you like.

Who Likes Short Form? We Like Short Form!

So send us your shorts!

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Or wax a little longer about one or more zone experiences. We look forward to hearing from you!

Let me close with this quote from a writer friend and fellow BAIPA (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association) buddy:

But there are times — my favorite climbs — when it doesn’t feel as if I’m climbing. Instead, the cliff or tree or wall seems to be lifting me, higher and higher.~ David Kudler, Bright Eyes: A Kunoichi Tale

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Marilyn Flower’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Follow her Sacred Foolishness and Stay in touch!