The flow state occurs when you are so focused on what you do, that you essentially become what you do. In this article I want to share what flow is, based on the works of the father of the flow theory Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, as well as my own experience of the state. When I talk about state alignment – allowing all layers of you to work together in coherence – this is that, fully realized. In the flow state:
- You act with effortless grace
- You are highly effective
- You feel amazing
Flow is the perfect unfolding, happening right in front of you. You are in the midst of the action, and at the same time there is no regular sense of self. For some, the observer disappears entirely — there is only the doing. For others, an observer remains, but it’s inside the action itself. Either way, there is no separation between you and what unfolds. This is because everything is happening without resistance and struggle. You may be using a lot of energy, doing something extremely complex, but it is effortless (true wu-wei, as a taoist would say). The internal critic went on vacation, and paradoxically you feel like you have complete control.
Your perception of time may change. It can feel like it is slowing down, like those epic slow motion shots in action sports videos. This is you being so present, so focused on the task, that you have room to perceive details with clarity. Furthermore, flow is autotelic — the activity is rewarding in and of itself, and that’s what makes you want to come back to it, time and time again.
The experience of mastery surpasses any other state, and afterwards you have grown into a more complex human being. This leaves you more confident in your abilities, because you have invested successfully in your goals. The complexity, according to Csikszentmihalyi, consists of differentiation and integration. The first one implies that you are becoming more skilled in your unique way, and the latter that there is a heightened sensitivity between each component.
During the flow state, nothing else matters. Nothing distracts you. There is no disorder to straighten out. This sense of order in consciousness is what feels so good and makes us highly effective.
Thoughts, intentions, feelings, and all the senses are focused on the same goal.
Experience is in harmony.
– Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience/Happiness (depending on edition)
The purpose of this post was to clarify what flow is. In upcoming articles I will look at how we design the optimal container for it, and I will share how I found my flow.
