Go with the Flow…
Hello my friend,
It feels like we are flying through the year, already into the second week of March! How are you feeling about it? Yes, there are many outrageous things happening in the world right now, most of which we have no control over, so how is affecting you? Are you letting the weight of the world drag you down, lay heavy on your shoulders? Or have you managed to be more in the flow? Getting on with things, taking care of your responsibilities, being less attached to outcomes. Simply putting in the effort, the work anyway, focusing on the things you CAN do? This is your reminder to approach life with playfulness, don't get caught up in the drama.
I was having a conversation the other day with some guests which re-iterated that life is like a wave... Good things happen, bad things happen, it is what it is. Our efforts through it all (and why we choose to engage in Practice - some kind of structure, guidance, discipline) is to remain content, no matter what life throws at us. We cannot theoretically be happy ALL of the time. To know joy, is to know sorrow, with love also comes grief, the interchanging antonyms of our experiential emotive lives...
Engaging with such practices like Meditation, mindfulness, Qigong and Pranayama, we slowly develop and access a calmer more reflective and balanced state of mind, that over time is carried into daily life. This mirrors into less reactivity to the ups and downs, challenges and emotional rollercoasters we've all experienced at some point in our lives before. We can pause, and let emotions like anger, jealousy, hate and frustration simmer down before letting them take over and lash out at a colleague, partner or child, creating space for understanding and empathy.
Practice also helps us to access the flow state of consciousness. This flow state, when you are "in the zone", feels like a place where time has vanished and your souls expands! Hopefully you've experienced this before, when you are fully immersed in something you love; painting, music, being in nature, writing, fully immersed in your craft... This is the sweet spot between focusing and letting go of control. This creative, trance-like state seems to emerge best when the practiced brain quiets its inner supervisor and allows automatic brilliance to take over.
So how do we get into this flow state, what conditions need to be present, or how can we cultivate it for ourselves? Well, let's take a look at the following key characteristics of 'flow state':
1 - Challenge/Skill - balance between these aspects.
2 - Action/Awareness merging - with a sense of ease or effortlessness in the task.
3 - Clear Goals - understanding moment to moment what needs to be done, with clarity.
4 - A sense of control - confident at one's level of mastery in the craft.
5 - Concentration - fully absorbed in the task.
6 - Loss of Self-consciousness - merging with the activity, dissolution of the ego.
7 - Transformation of time - either sped up or sense of slowing down.
8 - Pleasurable and Motivational Experience - the joy of the experience as opposed to the outcome or result.
Take a read through this full article should you be interested in working more with your creativity and full potential - Flow State: What Is It, Benefits, And More
In Buddhism, this is the concept of 'letting go'. The Key Aspects:
1. Non-Attachment: Releasing the grip on material possessions, relationships, and outcomes.
2. Impermanence (Anicca): Understanding that all phenomena are transient and subject to change.
3. Ego Dissolution (Anatta): Transcending the ego and the sense of a fixed self.
4. Equanimity (Upekkha): Maintaining mental calmness and balance in the face of life's ups and downs.
Both flow state and Buddhist philosophy (through meditation) are about being fully present, letting go of attachments, and embracing the changes of life. Whether through creative work or sitting on a cushion, these practices can lead to greater well-being and insight. By integrating the concept of “letting go” into our pursuit of 'going with the flow', we align ourselves with a deeper sense of calm, clarity and contentment. Through the experience of these principles, we can navigate life’s ups and downs with ease and attain a deeper sense of fulfillment and enlightenment.
* If you really want to dive into this subject a little more, take a listen to this 2 part podcast by Professor Bob Thurman and Dr Mark Epstein: (ep 207)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/156oG7X09gijSmp7CPUeuN?si=9f67a1117df84f43
Have a great day and I hope you find more flow in your life through practice and these insights.
Peace and Om xxx
Kirst
Thank you for reading and being part of my little community, I appreciate you. If you would like to follow my Instagram account @breatheandplay.home (or on Facebook) I will be sharing more information there in future on all things health and wellbeing. And if you're into following classes online, consider subscribing to the YouTube channel: Breathe & Play - YouTube
