Chasing a State of Flow

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Have you ever been so into something you’re doing that before you knew it, hours have gone by and you feel completely invigorated by whatever you’ve accomplished or experienced? They say, “time flies when you’re having fun,” when really, “time flies when you’re in a state of flow.”

In my blog about meditation, I talked about a mental state where you’re fully aware of what’s happening right now. Being in a state of flow (a concept named by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, but has its roots in eastern spiritual traditions) requires a similar sense of being present, but it’s a more active state where you’re engaging in something that really taps into your natural inclinations and capabilities.

Flow is when you lose complete track of time and space because you’re so enraptured by whatever it is you’re doing and it often produces something of value such as a new creation or even just increased proficiency in the skill you’re putting into practice.

You know what the opposite is of being in a state of flow? Data entry. Something so boring and mind-numbing that it actually seems to slow down the clock. You feel like hours have gone by because the task is so dreadful, but when you look at the clock, only a mere 2 minutes and 10 seconds have passed. Being in a state of flow is on the other end of that spectrum and that’s because being in a state of flow requires that you engage in an activity where your skill level is being met by an activity’s level of challenge.

There are the six factors that mark a state of flow:

  1. Intense and focused concentration on the present moment
  2. Merging of action and awareness
  3. A loss of reflective self-consciousness
  4. A sense of personal control or agency over the situation or activity
  5. A distortion of temporal experience, one’s subjective experience of time is altered
  6. Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding, also referred to as autotelic experience

Here are the activities that put me in a state of flow:

Planning

I’m naturally forward-thinking. Whether I’m planning a project, a dinner party, an upcoming trip, or whatever, I think with the end in mind. Then, I start to visualize what it would take to successfully execute the vision I have and even come up with scenarios where things don’t go as planned and what I need to do to be prepared in those cases. Planning gives me a sense of control over what I set out to accomplish and when my plan works out, it feels incredibly rewarding.

Cooking

I love to eat, but I also love to cook. Cooking requires me to be present (wouldn’t want to burn anything!) but it also taps into my love for planning (think mise en place). I usually have a vision for a meal, then I get into researching different ideas and approaches for creating that meal. When I have the oven preheating, the stove fired up, and all of my ingredients prepped for execution, I feel totally in the zone, moving effortlessly around my kitchen. The end result is usually a delicious meal that I can experience and share with others.

Dancing

Ever since I was young, I loved to dance. I never really received any kind of formal training and I didn’t do competitions like other girls, but I’ve learned how to feel and move with music by doing it, watching other people do it, and doing it often. It’s one of my favorite forms of exercise (Kazaxe or Zumba, mostly) because it helps me get out of my head and brings my whole being to life. It’s also one of my favorite past times— being out late at night with friends and just letting go on the dance dancefloor. I always feel fantastic afterward— sweating, heart beating, and refreshed from shaking off anything that was weighing me down.

Creating

Part of why I decided to start this blog is because it allows me to create. I’ve always enjoyed creating experiences, thought pieces, personalized gifts, video compilations, visuals, picture slideshows… There’s something really satisfying about creating something from nothing especially when it expresses who I am or helps me to better understand what makes me unique.

I spend a lot of time learning and exploring new disciplines and some stick whereas others don’t really keep my attention. Knowing what puts me in a state of flow improves the quality of my personal and professional life because I’m able to choose the activities that lift me up, rather than wear me down. Chasing this flow state is absolutely worthwhile because it catalyzes personal growth and brings to life what gives you a sense of purpose and pure enjoyment.

What puts you in a state of flow?

 

How to Meditate: For People Too Busy to Meditate

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Meditation can seem so daunting and esoteric, but it’s actually one of the simplest yet most beneficial practices you can incorporate into your daily routine.

At the gist of it, meditation is really about being present. Our mind is often all over the place and even much more so than we probably realize. When I bring up meditation, a lot of people say, “oh, I can’t sit still for that” or “I don’t have the time” and those are precisely the people who probably need it most.

When our minds are on auto-pilot, they’re likely to be consumed in circular or repetitive thoughts about things that have happened to us in the past or things we’re anticipating in the future. If you know me, you know that I enjoy reminiscing and I spend a lot time planning, but when you lose control over what your mind focuses on, you’re no longer in control of the situation. The prime example is insomnia: you want so badly to sleep, but you can’t seem to get your mind to stop running.

By incorporating some sort of meditation practice into your day, you build your mental ability to create the experiences in your life rather than be overcome by them. It also builds your ability to focus on one thing at a time which allows you to be more productive and creative, a state that’s not easily accessible when your mind is pulled in a million directions at any given time.

You know when you call your IT guys at work complaining about an issue on a website or application you’re trying to use? What does he usually advise you to do? One of two things: 1. Clear the cache on your browser or 2. Restart your computer. The funny thing is, it usually works. Meditation is exactly that… cleaning out all the junk you didn’t even know was clouding your ability to think clearly and operate efficiently as a human.

Here are some tips for getting started. There are so many options for how you can meditate. Try a few out and do what works best for you!

1. Keep it simple. Find a place where you won’t be tempted to check your phone, watch Netflix, or have to respond to someone. Set a timer for 5 minutes and focus on your breath. Every time your mind wanders, bring it right back to your breath and continue this until you hear the alarm.

Bonus Tip: Use a peaceful alarm like bells or birds chirping, not an abrupt one that reminds you of Monday morning. It prolongs the sense of peace.

2. ‎Find options for guided meditations. Yoga studios often offer these at no cost or for donations. You can also find a ton of apps (like Calm or Headspace) or YouTube videos. One of my favorites is this Smile Meditation.

3. ‎Incorporate meditation into something you’re already doing. Running, showering, cooking, and driving are my favorite times to practice being present. Feel the sensations and be aware of what’s around you. When you catch your mind rehashing something in the past or thinking about plans for the future, like what you’re going to eat (which is what I’m constantly thinking about), bring it back to the present moment.

Meditation doesn’t have to be limited to yogis and hippies. Even companies like Google have realized this as they’ve implemented programs like Search Inside Yourself for their employees. Experiment with a few varieties, then stick with it. You’ll be surprised at how this practice can transform your inner and outer world.

What kinds of meditation have you tried and how has the experience been?

 

 

 

The Importance of Self-Care

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Would I consider myself an over-achiever? Probably. I live in the DC area and everyone’s on their hustle. Not even sure how I got this way because I was not like this as a child. I was pretty mediocre academically in elementary school and high school. I didn’t really do much as far as extra-curricular activities. I just kind of went through my day without much thought about whether I was doing it right or if I was properly setting myself up for the future.

Something happened in college– like a light went off. I was really inspired by Aristotle’s thoughts on excellence where he defined the purpose of life as continuous improvement or spending one’s life striving towards human excellence. I began getting straight A’s and it felt good. He also talks about the importance of a strong community and social relationship. This made me more conscious of how I spent my free time and with whom I chose to surround myself.
Living life striving to always be better and trying to stay connected with people is fulfilling– it has led to a lot of achievements, recognition, promotions, opportunities, life-long relationships etc. It has also led to burn out. That debilitating state of just being completely overwhelmed. When you can’t. Like literally can’t. So, what have I done to prevent this state? Here are the top five things that have kept me from completely losing it:

1. Pace Yourself

I tell myself this at the gym, too. I realized that I want lasting results, but in the end, “it’s a sprint, not a marathon.” I take my time and focus on building the habits that will carry forth future progress. It’s not about doing a million things within a short amount of time. It’s about building the right capabilities to become stronger and last longer, whether that’s the strength and stamina for a workout or for a work day.

2. Prioritize

At the beginning of each year, I set about ten goals. What I’ve learned is that each year, they tend to have similar themes: being healthy, nurturing the relationships that mean the most to me like the one with my mom, progressing in my career, experiencing new places and adventures, learning more about the things I’m interested in, etc. I’m more aware of what I care about and what gives my life meaning, so when choosing what to do or who to see and what/who to say no to, I reflect on what truly matters to me, then say no to everything else.

3. Outsource

You don’t have to do it all. I heard Tim Ferriss tell a story on his podcast today that he knew of someone who outsourced their worrying. And, that it actually helped to know that someone out there was doing the worrying so he didn’t have to. Just because you can do it, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. If you can pay someone to do something for you that frees up your time to do things that are more meaningful to you, do it.

3. Get a Massage

It seems like a lot of people feel guilty treating themselves to things like massages, but it does wonders. Yoga and meditation have the similar benefits of clearing your mind and relaxing you, and I’m all about that, but massages let you let go. Let go of having to do anything. You don’t even have to hold yourself up. You can just be. You can be, while someone releases the tension from your shoulders and clears your meridian channels of all of the blockages that manifest into toxic things in your life.

5. Indulge in Guilty Pleasures

Yes, television can be a huge time suck. But, who says you have to be productive and engaged in something mentally stimulating at all times? Whether it’s watching American Idol or playing Mario Kart for hours, there are actually huge benefits to getting your mind off of the work it’s typically immersed in throughout most of your day. In fact, doing these mindless things can serve as inspirations to your actual work because it gets you to relax your brain muscles and opens your mind up to something less serious.

It’s all about balance and being in touch with your mental, physical, and emotional state. If you go on autopilot crush mode for hours, days, weeks, months without taking a break, you’ll inevitably find yourself having a panic attack or mental breakdown. By all means, work hard and chase your dreams, but don’t forget to stop and treat yo’ self every once in a while! You deserve it.

How important is self-care to you and what works best to keep you sane? Let me know in the comments below!

New Beginnings

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I’ve been thinking about starting this blog for years now. What better time to do so than the onset of Spring? I’m all about new beginnings and change, because as Heraclitus put it, “you never step into the same river twice.” At the gist of it, this blog is about life itself.

Although I may give advice or talk about what I believe, by no means is this blog meant to be prescriptive or dogmatic… it’s about exploration. It’s kind of my way of making sense of the world, growing as a person, and finding my voice.

I’ll ask the big questions, but at the same time, I don’t want to lose touch with the day-to-day, so you’ll likely see touches of that, as well. I’m interested in things like quantum mechanics, phenomenology, and ancient spiritual traditions, but I’m also about the new taco joint that just opened up around the corner. So, expect a wide-ish range.

I’m also not writing this for the sake of writing it: if my blog is written but no one reads it, does it even exist? I want my thoughts and the images, ideas, and inspiration I put out there to connect with other people. The best outcome I can imagine from writing this is finding more people who vibe with my insatiable curiosity, untethered ambition, depth of soul, hedonistic tendencies, and love of life…so, leave a comment, follow this blog, send me a message, connect with me on social, then let’s see where this takes us