In positive psychology,
“flow state,” sometimes referred to as “being in the zone,” is defined as “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.”
This “flow state” is considered to be the optimal balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems — a kind of moving meditation — or as writer + peak-performance researcher Steven Kotler describes, a sort of “effortless effort.”
There are a few common conditions that need to be met in order to achieve this flow state, and those could be summarized as (1) you need to care about the task at hand, (2) the activity, job, or task cannot be too easy or too difficult – in fact, Kotler describes this as the “challenge-skills balance” and considers it to be a “golden rule” to flow as we tend to pay the most attention to tasks that just slightly exceed our skillset – and (3) your motivation should be intrinsically-driven instead of extrinsically-driven – or in other words, your mindset surrounding the task should be focused on the journey, rather than the destination.
Hellooooo, yoga!
Mindfulness and flow state go hand in hand. When we practice mindfulness, we cultivate the ability to focus on the present moment without getting distracted by our thoughts and emotions. This enhances our capability to enter the state of flow, where we become fully immersed in our tasks and achieve a heightened sense of awareness and productivity.
Mindfulness helps us observe our thoughts without being consumed by them, which in turn helps us let go of self-talk that can hinder our progress. By being mindful, we create space in our minds for creativity and inspiration to flow freely. Mindfulness is about being in the present, which is essential for achieving a flow state. It helps us let go of past regrets and future worries and find joy in the process of the task at hand.
Science suggests that incorporating mindfulness and moments of flow into our daily lives can bring about numerous benefits to our overall well-being. Taking the time to focus on the present moment and engage in activities that ignite our passion and create a sense of immersion can enhance our creativity, productivity, and overall satisfaction with life.
By cultivating these practices, we can develop a greater awareness of ourselves, our surroundings, and our emotions, which in turn can lead to greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. Whether it be through meditation, yoga, or finding a new hobby, prioritizing a mindful and “flow state” lifestyle can bring about positive changes in our lives and help us to live more fully.
Yes, life can be mundane, but it can also be magical and awe-inspiring. Flow state reconnects us to the magic of life and I think it all comes back to the whole “you can't pour from an empty cup” kind of thing.
Taking these moments for ourselves – the moments that refuel us and that reignite the spark – often only results in providing us with that much more to give.
Keep showing up for yourself. Keep showing up for life.
And if you want to learn more about flow state, check out this Ted Talk with “the father of flow” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, as well as this interview with Steven Kotler on Big Think, How to Enter Flow State on Command.