“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” – FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE.
When we see someone temporarily not being themselves then returning back again into themselves, we can assume this person is clearly in the midst of a flow state. For experiencing a temporary loss of self consciousness is never something that comes on suddenly in everyday life.
To achieve this, everything must be eliminated. Even everyone. To reach flow, whilst engaged with the task you must become fully immersed. That means no attention for even talking. Talking is a distraction as attention must be split. To divide attention means to not be fully engaged or focused. And not to be fully focused means not to be able to be in flow.
All of this is about focus. And the level of depth you can get to through this state. Therefore making intense focus your number one skill you will be able to switch it on in a moments notice. What that means is you then have the ability to get more from your practice than someone who doesn’t reach this state of mind who will then have to spend much, much longer to try and even get close to reach the same level.
The intensity of your practice, making hard things enjoyable is also how one masters the patience required. Because they are not worried or thinking about how long is this going to take or when will this be over? The thought never crosses their mind.
Being so focused on the present and deeply involved with the task of the moment, every time they start, means they are never thinking about the future. The only thing that matters is now. And with that mindset, of only ever focusing on the next step of action, the process will go by and take you naturally with it. The only thing you’ve got to do is show up and begin.
There needs to be 110% focus for this to occur. If you are bouncing back and forth between relaxing, feeling bored or apathy, you are never experiencing it. Yet you are only moments away from breaking out of your current state. And while you might think relaxation is better than anxiety, being too relaxed will lead to extreme boredom, if you are not careful and let your mind slow down too much.
Anxiety can increase your alertness, as it’s one step away from focus therefore only two steps away from flow. Anxiety can also trigger stress. Yet while stress is not good for you, eustress is really good for you. So when one knows not merely how to manage stress but how to achieve flow, one can convert stress into eustress, which is highly beneficial stress. And flow is also known as: the ultimate eustress experience.
KEYS TO FLOW
Learn to see everything as a challenge that must be overcome. Difficulties are never something to avoid but always opportunities for action. Life can only ever go one of two ways: wish this situation weren’t happening to you and complain about the fact that it is, which will never change anything.
Or, accept everything that happens to you as if it was always going to happen to you and supposed to happen to you for a reason. Review what that means, then immediately set yourself on doing whatever is necessary and whatever it takes to overcome these obstacles.
Many times it’s when things we don’t want to happen that teach and push us not only to grow out of our comfort zone but even put us in a better place ‘because’ the thing we never wanted to happen, did. Learn to see times of hardship for what they really are: opportunities to test yourself. Your mind. Your strength. Your character.
You can either give up or stand up. Give in or overcome. Complain about it or do something about it. Fail or succeed from it. And it would be better if you always choose the latter. Endless striving is what keeps life exciting.
Break out of your current state by finding new challenges that require high levels of skill and create goals to do better than you could before. Be process oriented. Not outcome focused. Process requires dedication and investment into the long term. Process needs serious commitment.
Outcome focus wants short term, quick fixes and instant gratification, all symptoms of the weak, sloppy minded. Power does not lie in getting as much as you want as fast as you can get it.
Power lies in your ability to resist what others can’t. To be able to live without wanting in the first place. The desire to not desire much is a powerful thing to crave. If only more would know how to.
The fact, or misbelief, of needing so much is the definition of a weakness.
THE GAME STARTS LONG BEFORE IT BEGINS: TIME, EFFORT AND PREPARATION
Find activities that fascinate you past the point of being able to ignore and completely forget the world exists whilst engaged. Then, get into the habit of making that a daily practice, routine, structure, of your everyday life.