Over the past decade, I've found myself in conversations and thoughts where the word flow has been used quite frequently. For the most part, it has been used to describe a state of being focused or locked in on some activity. I've probably used that word without really understanding what it truly meant, even though I've been in that state numerous times. As a matter of fact, now that I look back, it's probably what made my undergraduate experience enjoyable and challenging. I recently finished reading Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience and have started to re-think and redefine what flow means, especially what it means to me personally. The article is me talking about flow while being in flow.
I've done some reflection and realized that I'm constantly engaging in flow activities in my day to day life. Here are a few flow activities that I've experienced recently:
- A one hour hot yoga class gives me a sense of focus and calm
- Playing and singing a song on the guitar, especially with my eyes closed
- Reading a book that I find challenging yet enjoyable
- Playing sports, both team and individual sports
- Writing this article at a cafe while sipping on some matcha
Whenever I give myself the space to focus on any of these activities listed above, I enter a state of flow, which feels more or less like a relaxed state of focus and concentration. I've pondered on why the activities listed above put me in this state and that is, all of them force me to pay full attention to what I'm doing. If I don't, I end up making mistakes or losing the context that I've built.
For example, when I'm in a yoga class, I focus on my breath and the instructor's cues. When I'm singing a song, especially on stage, I focus on how my voice sounds, how much force am I applying each strum, and how the guitar responds to the force I'm applying. It is obvious that while I'm engaged in these activities, my brain is processing a lot of information at once - yet it still feels like a smooth stream flowing down a forest. The moment an interruption comes across, this stream of thought (or energy) all of a sudden breaks. The breaking of the stream, which often times feels uneasy, is an indication to my system that I've gone out of flow state.
Why does this happen? Why is it that my body feels uneasy and knows that I've lost flow? I don't quite know, but I would assume that there's a cost to switching context, as it is with computers. What I do know is when the stream breaks, my brain and body will react to that by taking a deep breath (perhaps a sigh). I also know that it will take me some time to get back into that state - perhaps that's why interruptions are costly? A computer chip that constantly context switches will spend most of its time rebuilding context and then dumping it to move to the next task without doing any meaningful work. Perhaps the cost lies in the loading and dumping of context?
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I've learned that everyone's flow activities are different. Perhaps, that's what makes use unique as humans. The common thread though, is that optimal human experience is tied to our ability to live in the flow state. It takes work and energy to get into and stay in this state. Concentration, paying attention, and shutting off distractions are what takes work and energy from our brains. Each of these are skills that require deliberate practice. It's unfortunate that such skills are harder to develop and practice in this age of short attention spans and 24/7 chaotic environments.
Having said, this, I have hope and strongly believe that it is possible to find the stillness (of practice) in the chaos. The ways of learning or practicing these skills will probably vary person to person, but the outcome is more or less consistent across everyone. It is the feeling of deep enjoyment and relaxation in whatever we're engaged in. It is a feeling of being one with the activity. It is the feeling of floating on clouds as some would label it as meditation. This book has made me realized that given the right environment, everyone can experience this and enrich their lives by simply learning to pay deep attention and practicing concentration.
As you can see, I'm quite passionate about the idea of flow. I'm still learning about it both by reading as well as engaging in more flow activities. It is liberating to know that flow is a skill that anyone can work towards. With discipline and the right mindset the most boring task can be a flow activity that enriches our lives. All we need to do is create the environment, learn the skill, and practice it deliberately in our day to day lives. I'll be back with more thoughts on flow. But for now I leave you with a question.
What does it mean for you to flow?