Daily Leadership Thought #126 – Tap Into Your Flow
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi introduced the concept of “Flow”, which is defined as the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. We all experience this state of being to varying degrees and frequencies. It can happen at work or in our personal lives, but it’s hard to miss. It feels like we’re in a different dimension where everything is in order and our uniqueness can thrive.
I have always felt that “flow” should be the goal, not the exception in life. Far too many people work at jobs they dislike, engaging in activities that provide no sense of meaning to them and rarely tap into their true talents and passions. In their home lives, people similarly fall into routines that can become “ruts” if they are not careful, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed by their daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. There is a sense of slowly losing yourself to the “busyness” of life. You become further removed from your true self and what truly makes you happy.
We all have natural talents, abilities, interests, and character traits that make us unique individuals. Flow is achieved when we tap into those aspects of ourselves that make us special. Self-awareness and honest reflection can make a substantial difference to our state of being. If you can build the wisdom and courage not to conform to societal pressures but instead choose to chart your life based on your uniqueness and what makes you feel purposeful, energized, and happy, the river of life will “flow” more easily.
Related articles
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Flow (sujenman.wordpress.com)
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- Engagement through Immersion through Gaming: Go with the Flow! (trak.in)
- Positive Psychology and Life (berfulogia.wordpress.com)
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- “A joyful life is an individual creation that cannot be copied from a recipe.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi http://t.co/CjvDF7G5 (tpr2.wordpress.com)
- Fast Exercises To Find Your Purpose And Passion For Work (fastcompany.com)
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