Day 20- 5 Steps To Achieve Flow State

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When we're in flow, action and awareness become one. Finding your zone will transform your everyday experiences. There is a power in flow state where we discover our path to complete immersion and all sense of time just melts away. How do we achieve this state? Listen today and find out for yourself.

Welcome to DAY TWENTY of our new 30-day COMMUNITY PROJECT where we make something with our hands every day in order to improve our mental health. We all realize that creativity heals...it's time to put that knowledge into action.

These episodes will exist here, marked with the days numbered, in order for you to follow along at any speed that you like. Miss a day? Doesn't matter. Just pick up right where you left off and keep making things. These episodes will give us all some accountability, but if you need more, pair up with a partner. It really does help!

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Episode Transcript

LeAnna Azzolini (00:00):
When we choose a goal and invest ourselves in
it to the limits ofconcentration, whatever we do
will be enjoyable, and once wehave tasted this joy, we will
redouble our efforts to taste itagain.
This is the way the self grows.
By Mahali Csikszentmihalyi,also known as the father of flow
.
Also known as the father offlow.

(00:23):
Today we're going to talk aboutone of my favorite feelings,
which is being in flow state.
You'll hear athletes call itbeing in the zone, and you can
even achieve this state byplaying chess, listening to
music or reading a book.
Being in flow state is just amental state of complete

(00:46):
absorption in what you're doingand an energized focus in
whatever activity you've chosen,where you also feel this
complete loss ofself-consciousness and time just
melts away.
Getting into flow state canjust change your entire day.
It feels so good and there areso many benefits that come from

(01:08):
achieving flow state.
Some of the benefits I canthink of you get yourself into
this heavy, heavy sense ofconcentration where you're just
able to focus on whatever's infront of you without getting
distracted, and then it leads tohigher output, this higher

(01:28):
quality of work.
You achieve a sense of clarity.
It's just like your body andmind, knowing what needs to be
done without having to eventhink about it.
You don't have any obstacles infront of you.
They fade away the stress,worry, self-doubt, all of that
just kind of melts away when youachieve a flow state and it

(01:51):
brings this great feeling.
It's kind of like just thisintrinsically positive
experience.
There's no superficialitydriving this force, it's just
that pure pleasure, thatpersonal pleasure that comes
with being in the moment anddoing something that you're just
passionate about.

(02:12):
It brings a joy.
It just goes beyond thattemporary high.
It's kind of like a generalsense of well-being sets in and
you have this lasting sense ofjoy and fulfillment for the rest
of the day, maybe more so.
The big question is now how dowe get into a state of flow?

(02:32):
Number one you want to balanceskill and challenge.
You've got to choose a taskthat's challenging enough to be
engaging, but not so difficultthat you're going to get anxious
.
Number two set clear goals.
Know exactly what you're tryingto achieve.
Number three make sure you havecreated an environment that is

(02:55):
going to allow for uninterruptedfocus.
Number four focus on theprocess and not the result.
And number five be present.
Practice mindfulness to help youbecome more aware and absorbed
in the moment.
So, whether you're playingchess, rock climbing, gardening,

(03:16):
dancing, writing, painting,sculpting, whatever you've
chosen to immerse yourself in,make sure those five points have
been covered and you willachieve a state of flow.
When, in flow, action andawareness become one, and few
things feel better than that.

(03:36):
Find some time this week to getto a quiet place with no
distractions, put the phone away, turn the clock around and dig
into something where you canachieve a state of flow.
Once you find that thing thatcan bring you to that state,
you'll keep seeking it moreoften and it will bring a

(03:58):
lighter sense to your day, toyour week.
Even Achieving flow turns workinto play.
Until next time, stay curious.