After years of experimenting with what contributes to flow, these are the main triggers I’ve found.
1: Harmonious Surroundings
Self-expression needs space to breathe. Safety and freedom let our senses awaken. When we are in harmony with our surroundings, and our bodies are relaxed, ideas flow more effortlessly. Work with your body, by placing yourself wisely. I tidy everything before I begin; a clear space invites a clear mind, and that leads us into knowing exactly what we’re here to do.
2: A Clearly Defined Task
It is essential to have clear limits regarding the task at hand. You need to know the rules of the game you play. The limits can create a compact or spacious container. I work well with both, but I need 100% certainty of what belongs inside it and not. It can be as simple as: this is the space, this is your tool, do what you want. Now that everything is set, the only thing left is to allow.
3: Let the Rhythm Unfold
Any creative process moves in stages, and the different phases ask different things of you. Some days call for wandering, acting on seemingly unrelated impulses. Other days, you strike gold, see the pattern or what is essential, and get to give it shape. If we try to be in a different stage than we are, we are working against the flow. When in chaos, stay open. When clarity arrives, ground it.
