Last week we talked about attention. This week I want to talk about flow.

How are the two related? When you add them up, what do you get? What’s the state of being that arises that’s greater than the sum of the two parts?

It’s interesting how the universe provides. Since I put my attention on the topic of attention, I happened upon a broadcast on the radio that expanded my knowledge on the topic.

There’s a fellow by the name of Guy Raz, who has a radio show/podcast on NPR called How I Built This. He was interviewing an author named Johann Hari who wrote a book called Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again.

He talked about the myth of multitasking, and how our brains are wired differently than the machines and technology that surround us. The term multitasking itself is borrowed from computer terminology, since modern machines often have more than one processor.

Our brains and bodies, however, function differently. Personally, I find it easy to do what might be called complementary tasking, while multitasking is counterproductive.

For example, if I’m doing something more or less on autopilot with my body such as vacuuming the floor or grinding metal or painting a wall, my brain is perfectly capable of listening to a radio show or podcast with a conversation of spoken words at the same time.

But test yourself with this and tell me how it goes. Turn on the radio right now and try listening to a news broadcast or an interview while you are reading this. If your brain is anything like mine, you’ll find it impossible to focus on both at the same time. Your brain might be nimble, but it’s simply not built to dance like that.

In the interview, Johann made the point that the flow state is the deepest form of attention. He also made another point that I found very interesting—that the result that emerges from being in the flow state is an increased level of competence.

Feeling competent about something is the bedrock of well-being. He claims that being in the flow state for even a short period of time gives rise to a greater feeling of competence for the entire day.

So far, so good, right? So just how can we predictably get into this miraculous state of flow on a regular basis?

He says there are three keys to it. First, we have to decide on the one goal that we are going to focus on, and tune out everything else. Second, it has to be something that has a great deal of personal meaning to us. The third thing is very interesting. He says that the sweet spot for entering the flow state is to push against the edge of our ability.

In other words, if it’s too easy, we are liable to just get bored and be mindless about it. If it’s too difficult, we are likely to get frustrated and give up. But if it’s right at that edge, where we are challenging ourself and putting our complete focus upon the task at hand, we are likely to enter that magical state of flow, where time ceases to exist.

What leads to the flow state is different for everyone. For you it could be dancing, for me it might be writing or playing records. Every form of creative endeavor or professional challenge can bring on the flow state for someone.

One might say that the secret sauce of feeling good about yourself can be found in the dance between feeling competent and making progress towards your goals.

Figuring out how to finesse your way into the flow state on a regular basis is the key to jumpstarting both. When you pay attention to your attention, a whole new level of competence and progress can emerge!

Yours in the flow till next Monday!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine