The "Flow" Zone

Painting by Susiebloom

What gets you in the flow zone? When is the last time you felt genuine flow? What gets you feeling that remarkable sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from, as psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi puts it, "the mental state of being fully engaged in an activity with energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment?"

Flow is that marvelous place where time melts away, creativity surges, everything feels deeply aligned, and we are fully immersed.

I recently felt an incredible amount of unexpected flow when I decided to begin a painting that I've been wanting to do. Inspired by a photo a friend shared with me, I set aside ample self-doubt (a real killer of flow) chose a large canvas leaning against the wall in my "art corner" of the garage, dusted it off, put it on the easel, peered at the picture, then, pencil in hand, made a rough sketch. It felt good to start, to feel myself engage, to open the door to possibility and walk through it. Despite my limited paint selection, I mixed some color. Each choice, each next step, filled me with confidence to continue. With every brush stroke, flow entered where fear had been. I let go of my expectations and let the process take over. At one point I had multiple brushes in my left hand, ready to swap as I moved quickly and intentionally. I was most definitely in "the flow zone". In moments, hours passed and a painting emerged before me. It wasn't half bad. I was surprised. I felt happy. The more I painted, the more flow I felt. I finished it in five hours. I hadn't stopped to eat or even go to the bathroom. When I put down my brushes and stepped back, it felt like waking up, and though I felt completely energized by the experience, I was somewhat dazed. It was invigorating. I unlocked something that wants to remain open, wants to be explored and expanded. Yes...more flow, please. It's a splendid space to be.

We can flow in myriad ways. I sometimes don't even realize it until afterwards, and the experiences usually aren't as intense as the one I recounted to you above. But, every moment in the flow zone is a gift, an opportunity to awaken and embrace ourselves and life more fully.

I'd love to hear about your experiences in flow. Susie@Susiebloom.com Send me an email.

Even on our best days, we won't be in a state of constant flow. We have responsibilities; jobs, families, etc. However, we can intentionally cultivate time in the flow zone by doing a few key things, some of which I share in episode 110 of the Blooming Together podcast.

• Choose meaningful activities - these are things that deeply matter to us and help us feel purpose. When something truly matters to us, our brain naturally tunes out distractions and focuses more intently. Also, when we're doing things for their own sake and not for external rewards, flow thrives, fueling our inner drive, and connecting us to our values and passions. The more engaged we are, the more joy and mastery we feel, reinforcing our desire to stay in flow...like I experienced with the painting.

• Create clear goals - a well-defined goal - not too easy, not too hard - aligns our skills and effort, channeling our energy into a single direction, priming the brain, and inviting deep, focused immersion. Plus, each goal completed boosts our dopamine and confidence. Who doesn't want that?!

• Minimize distractions - there are far too many distractions in our lives. We need to guard our flow by establishing some boundaries. We can silence notifications, turn off devices entirely, create rituals before we begin our work, and establish an inspiring environment that invites flow energy and room to bloom.

• Practice mindfulness - the number one barrier to flow is mental clutter. We gotta clear the clutter, Friends! Overthinking, ruminating, and too much multitasking remove us from the moment. It's vital that we remain in the present where flow flourishes.

• Practice wellness - tending to our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as a sacred responsibility, not a luxury, is key. Burnout is real. It dims our spark. Rested minds and well nourished bodies are the best canvas for flow. We need to take care of ourselves.

Flow is fantastic. It's certainly worth making time for in our lives so we can keep blooming beautifully. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that flow is the energy of blooming, the life force of growth. It felt incredibly exciting to work on that painting the other day, to be so completely engaged in a passionate pursuit that I lost all track of time and allowed myself to confidently create without fear, trusting my instincts in faith. Flow is faith in action. So, I'll ask you again.

When was the last time you felt genuine flow? What gets you in the flow zone? Because...

It's flow time, Friends! Bloom on!