~ Flow ~
ENTRY 06
Light on the feet,
absorbed in the moment,
striking beauty,
grace, elegance.
The passage of time,
yesterday’s worry,
free and flowing,
streaming possibility.
Artist becomes art,
joy springs into being,
doing what comes naturally,
a harmonic state.
Earth is a giant complex living organism. Diverse, fluid, colourful, sentient. Humans are among some of its abundant organic creatures. This inherently means we share a deep connection with this ancient planet (to say the least). On a physiological level, elemental matter shapes not only our bodies within but also the world outside. Water, carbon, nitrogen, electrical energy etc. We share our home with innumerable species, both plant and animal. Even DNA structures are inextricably linked. What affects us, how we treat others, what we create, the ways we consume, play larger roles in the health of the ecosystem than we can comprehend. This connection to a system much greater than the sum of its parts can only be appreciated if you open to a wider holistic vision of reality.
Patterns, fractals, polarities, seasons, cycles – if you pay attention there are universal truths (laws) that govern the world that we perceive. It’s rather easy to cover our eyes to reality; the digital world distracts, the machine (of modern civilisation) pulls us away. Time is pushed upon humans (particularly in the West) as an enemy that must be overcome. Finite, fleeting, never quite enough. Time makes up the temporal backdrop of our busy lives. We compartmentalise our days, weeks, years into structural pieces in a puzzle. We become fragmented. Lose our essence. Lose sight on our collective history, how we arrived here, where we’re going. The modern office worker boxed inside their cubicle is simply a microcosm to the overwhelming consciousness of this age.
There is an underlying dysfunctional psychology taking place in the minds of many in the West. Our removal from nature has led to a lack of awareness to the natural processes that make up a bigger picture. Creating niches in the market can help us find our place in an infinitely complex market ecosystem. Unfortunately, hyperfocus on mastery can often neglect foresight to the greater meaning outside of our own tunnel vision. Many mindlessly pursue specialisation in a field only to find it has never aligned with who they are or want to be (deep down) i.e. climbing the ladder against the wrong wall… Ultra specialisation has become a form of ‘expert worship’. ‘An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until they know absolutely everything about nothing.’ [1]
Our views and perspectives slowly become rigid; we reek of arrogance, dig our heels deeper into what we know, and the proverbial hills we choose to fight on are places of fortification and defence. To analogise, let’s take a moment to look at the fundamental states of matter – solids, liquids, and gases. A solid can be characterised by its unmoving nature, unchanging i.e. rock. Liquids are fluid, flowing and constantly changing – expansion and contraction i.e. water. Gas is formless, invisible but holds lots of energetic potential i.e. air. Our bodies are made up of over 65% oxygen, 18% carbon, 10% hydrogen and so on [2][3]. In this way, the building blocks to human cells are characteristically fluid, moving, and changing (constantly!). Humans are rather antithetical to solidified, hardened beings.
Knowing this, why then would we choose to remain stagnant, unchanging, and fearful of change? Much of modern humanity is spent in sedentary lifestyles – sitting at desks, laying on a couch, static in transport. Likewise, our psychology if unchecked becomes unconscious, programmed, predictable, and closed-minded. We all have a natural yearning for movement, both in our bodies and minds. Healthy embodiment of this truth brings about homeostasis. In contrast, if we spend most of our lives unmoving, we develop unnatural imbalances in the body and mind. Injuries, illness, and disease. Our health breaks down, to no surprise.
Despite the hyper vigilant state that many of us live, with constant stress and an unending to-do list, most have certainly glimpsed that harmonic state of being where everything just seems to flow effortlessly. The mind is in the moment and the body functions with fluidity. Physiological flow pours through all aspects of our being. This is widely recognised as the flow state. This idea has been around for millennia, but science has only been studying its significance in these most recent decades. Generally, it exists at the crossroads of doing something challenging (at the edge of what you think you’re capable) and intrinsically rewarding (being in fulfilment) [4]. It could mean anything for anyone. What a mathematician finds ‘lightwork’ is a mountain of work to the gardener – and vice versa.
You can most readily see flow in high performers. Athletes, musicians, artists. They are fully engrossed into something they love (which on the outside may be technically difficult) but make it seem both easy and elegant (effortless flare). The flow state is considered the optimal point in performance. Towing the line between a healthy challenge and enjoyment. An activity just beyond one’s perceived skillset but within the realm of playful confrontation. An unconscious bundle of forces working in harmony towards potential. You may even engage in this fluid state more than what you’re aware. This is because it often occurs organically.
Despite its attraction, a flow state cannot be simply reached by force. Let alone be completely explained in and of itself. In fact, the more one forces the issue the harder it may be to reach this promised land. Look for signs – environments, activities, people – where a state of flow may be more easily accessed. Developing a keen level of awareness to triggers can be helpful. It is for this reason one should investigate what they find effortless that others may deem cumbersome. The adage goes, ‘do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ One should spend much of their time in pursuit of learning and then doing what makes them thrive. If this can be harnessed into the creation of value for others and the world, you may have just struck the jackpot (read Entry 03 [5]).
Common byproducts of flow include more creativity, less stress/anxiety, higher performance, higher levels of satisfaction, calm and peace of mind [4]. Many share these feelings internally though the activity can look entirely different. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, American Psychologist, developed the first model to describe this unique experience with his ‘flow theory’[6]. His major findings are 1. the task must be of certain difficulty which balances with the persons level of skill 2. Ensuring the task has a clear goal 3. the participant finds the task intrinsically rewarding [6] (among other factors). Current neuroscience hints at increased theta and alpha brainwaves during flow which could be linked to higher cognitive control, task immersion and lower demand on working memory [7][8]. A ten-year longitudinal study found that people in flow states were 500% more productive compared with those distracted in the workplace [6].
This sweet spot, ‘in the zone’, is probably even more elusive these days with the bombardment of distractions we all face. It opens a pandora box of questions such as the appropriate use of time, what truly matters, is there a right or wrong way to live? In a world of hyper vigilance, heightened stress, compartmentalisation, rigidity, unending task lists – flow could be considered as one possible antidote. Flow represents more than just an approach to life. Flow is life lived in its most creative form. If you are alive (which you are), then your nature demands a level of reverence for the now. Eastern philosophies have long testified the art of letting go (of the past and future). Wu Wei in Chinese philosophy means ‘effortless action’ [9]. An all-encompassing relationship with the present moment in whatever you do can lead to transcendent experience.
Live in the joy of being. Approach your life with curiosity, and childlike exploration. No doubt you will stumble upon many things which make your soul sing. Move, live with free uninhibited flow. Create fluently, with no desire for external reward. Be still, surrender, let go. Close your eyes. Feel the aliveness in your body. The flow of energy, blood circulation, breathe coursing through the veins. Melt back into the essence of who you are. From here the path becomes clear, the steps revealed. Doing through being. Flow!
References:
1. Butler, N. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/181579-an-expert-is-one-who-knows-more-and-more-about
2. Davey, R. (2023). What Chemical Elements are Found in the Human Body? https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-Chemical-Elements-are-Found-in-the-Human-Body.aspx#:~:text=The%20human%20body%20is%20approximately,sodium%2C%20chlorine%2C%20and%20magnesium.
3. Helmenstine, A.M. (2019). Chemical composition of the human body. https://www.thoughtco.com/chemical-composition-of-the-human-body-603995
4. Robson, D. (2024). The flow state: the science of the elusive creative mindset that can improve your life. https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/20/flow-state-science-creativity-psychology-focus
5. Phillips, S. (2024). The Slow Receding Tide. https://www.thewellszndlife.com/blog/theslowrecedingtide
6. Gold, J. Ciorciari, J. (2020). A review on the role of neuroscience of flow states in the modern world. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7551835/#B6-behavsci-10-00137
7. Katahira, K. Yamazaki, Y. Yamaoka, C. Ozaki, H. Nakagawa, S. Nagata, N. (2018). EEG correlates of the flow state: a combination of increased frontal theta and frontocentral alpha rhythm in the mental arithmetic task.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5855042/
8. Thompson, J. (2022). Alpha brain waves are associated with a flow state of mind. Here’s how to ride yours.https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/alpha-brain-waves-are-associated-with-a-flow-state-of-mind-heres-how-to-ride-yours
9. Stefon, M. (2024). Wuwei. https://www.britannica.com/topic/wuwei-Chinese-philosophy