What is flow state and why is it necessary if you want to evolve?
Before evolution happens, you need disruption. You need to engage in an experience that will disrupt your current thought patterns to allow for new patterns.
First, let’s understand flow.
Do you remember a time when...
you were fully absorbed in what you were doing and hyperfocused that you lost track of time
you felt fully immersed in the moment it feels like you and nature are one
you felt intense clarity of thought it seemed like ideas and solutions come to you easily and without friction
everything seems to flow from one thought to the next, one move to the next
you feel like you’re accomplishing 10x more than you usually do
nothing else seems to matter at that moment and you feel intense inexplicable joy
That’s what flow feels like. It's an altered state of consciousness when you feel your best and you perform your best.
And I imagine, you want more of those moments.
Flow state can mean multiple things and some people describe it in multiple ways such as: getting in the zone, runner’s high, in the box, and second wind. You let go of yourself. The part of your brain that does critical thinking shuts off.
Steven Kotler (Founder of Flow Research Collective) defined it best, “Flow is an optimal state of human consciousness when you feel your best and you perform your best. It describes moments of absorption when action and awareness merge and everything falls away—time flies. Self vanishes”.
Why is engaging in a flow-inducing activity necessary if you want to evolve?
Because when you’re in flow, your brain produces a cocktail of feel-good neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, anandamide, norepinephrine, and endorphins. It’s a cathartic experience.
This then sets the stage for new connections and pattern recognition, like a reset in your mind to allow for new thoughts and higher thoughts where you can dream and visualize because you feel good and you are not critical about yourself.
Ideas seem to come to you more easily and you are more open and feel more capable of grander things that you thought you can’t do when you’re not in flow.
I want you to sit on that.
Think about those times you were in flow state. Then visualize the kind of life you want to live. Visualize the kind of person you want to become. Visualize how you're going to build the person you want to become.
In the next installment of this series, we will dig deeper into the mental and physical benefits of flow and how it can propel you further toward your evolution.
Takeaway
Flow rewires your brain. The more you engage in flow activities, the more your brain produces neurochemicals that will disrupt your current thought patterns and reset your way of thinking to set the stage for new thoughts.
Action Items
Schedule something on the calendar that’ll help you get a peak experiences
rock climbing
Ashtanga yoga
surfing
wakeboarding
skydiving
skateboarding
mountain biking
running
2. Think about activities that you can incorporate into your daily life that can get you into a micro-flow
I hope you learned something from the first drop of Eternally Stoked.
We will dig a bit deeper next week and continue on this overarching theme that is, Evolve, from the perspective of flow and peak performance.
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
Develop a daily practice that gets you into flow - The Dojo
Learn more about flow state - Listen to the Chasing Flow State podcast
Work 1on1 with me through a Flow Lifestyle Redesign
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at nash@chasingflowstate.com