the flow state

Years after he began throwing pottery on the wheel, Henry described what it felt like to be in a flow state. He explained, “I had such clarity and focus after hours of throwing, and I felt calm and peaceful,” he said. He said he couldn’t achieve this state even while doing his favorite work: design.

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According to Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in his TED Talk, Flow: The Secret to Happiness, when in a flow state, we feel:

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• Completely involved in what we are doing – focused, concentrated (the opposite of distraction)
• A sense of ecstasy – away from everyday reality
• Great inner clarity – knowing what needs to be done, and how well we are doing it.
• Knowing that the activity is doable – that our skills are adequate to the task.
• A sense of serenity – no worries about oneself, and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego.
• Timelessness – thoroughly focused on the present, hours seem to pass by in minutes.
• Intrinsic motivation – whatever produces flow becomes its own reward.

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Instead of chasing money and fame, people often choose to pursue what they love. Research conducted by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his team across various demographics has shown that doing what people love can lead to the flow state and bring a sense of meaning and fulfillment, a finding that holds true for musicians, painters, sculptors, potters, athletes, poets, entrepreneurs, monks, farmers, and many others.

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The challenge we face today isn't the need for constant social media feeds or entertainment, but discovering what leads us to a flow state where we can truly experience joy.

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