What do I know about flow?
I remember I discovered the concept of “flow” before I even read about Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s seminal work on the topic. Some years ago I realised I wanted to work to help other people find what I had found through swimming, running, cycling and more latterly yoga and strength training. Namely, an activity which provides the daily fuel to keep me feeling great, grounded and able to cope with the ups and downs life throws at me.
These activities share all of the following traits: they completely absorb me, they are challenging, they make me feel great whilst I am doing them and for the rest of my day. During the activity I get space to reflect, come up with new ideas. I often have my most creative thoughts in the midst of a long swim or a run. Time is distorted so it feels as though it either stands still or moves so quickly beyond the realms of rational time. Whilst doing the activity I am completely grounded in the present moment, focused on my breath, my body and how I feel.
Intrinsic motivation and flow
I am motivated to do these activities at least every other day, because without them, I don’t feel like my true self. These activities give me more energy and make me feel great for the rest of my day. Michelle Segar discusses these ideas in her important work on motivation. Through these activities I have become physically and mentally fit, and resilient.
As consequence I have a healthy relation to my physical body and self-image. I never think in terms of calories consumed, or weight loss (and this was not always the case as my younger self struggled for many years with eating issues and a dislike of my body). My body is far from what is considered to be culturally perfect (whatever that means), but I have now found the body I can accept and feel good about. It’s important to note that this has happened almost as a secondary consideration as I am not trying to look a certain way or be a certain size.
The key thing is that I am intrinsically motivated to partake in these activities because they make me feel good in the moment and for the rest of the day. Doing these activities provides the catalyst in my quest to achieve a balanced attitude towards my physical and mental health. I am grateful for my body and all the amazing things it allows me to do. As a consequence, for the most part, I choose to treat my myself with kindness by listening to my body, eating well, sleeping as much as my body needs and moving the way it makes me feel good.
Optimal experience
After studying the topic and I realised this is exactly what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced Me-high Cheek-sent-me-high) is talking about. I read his summary of what equates to optimal experience and it seemed to match almost perfectly to my own reflections on my activities: “I developed a theory of optimal experience based on the concept of Flow – the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do even at great cost for the sheer sake of doing it”.
People are motivated to do these activities not for extrinsic reasons such as getting a medal, or losing weight. They are motivation for purely intrinsic reasons in that the activity feels great in the moment. His concept of an autotelic personality describes a “self-contained activity, one that is done not with the expectation of some future benefit but simply because the doing itself is the reward”. Csikszentmihalyi describes eight components central to the idea of flow which are universal:
- the activity needs to be something you can concentrate on
- it must have clear goals
- is something which allows you a chance to gain a sense of accomplishment
- it provides immediate feedback
- enables deep involvement removing your consciousness from the usual worries and anxieties of everyday life
- it must allow for control over actions
- concern for the self disappears yet after the activity is finished the self emerges more strongly
- the way time is experienced is distorted – minutes can stretch out or hours can pass by in what seems like seconds.
His book touches on all of the different ways in life we can experience a flow state – as we move our bodies in physical activity, eat, work, have sex, enjoy music, read and study. He also discusses how people have survived extreme hardship in concentration camps, as prisoners etc as a result of embodying the “flow” state. I was reminded of this recently when listening to the fascinating Feel Better Live More podcast where John McAvoy discusses how he survived 365 in solitary confinement in a prison by devising his own strength body workout.
A family in flow
It’s not that surprising now when I reflect back why I’ve developed such a passion for helping others find their activity or their true “flow” state. I grew up in a family where flow activities are central to well-being. My Mum plays tennis every opportunity she possibly can (as did her Mum). My Dad is always at the golf course (following in the footsteps of his Mum). One of my aunties is a prolific long-distance ultra-marathon and trail runner. My uncle is a keen mountain biker and runner. My other auntie and uncle are also lifelong outdoors runners, orienteers and volunteer at their local Park Runs every weekend. My siblings and cousins are all super active including my cousin Murray Strain who orienteers for Scotland and is a top-class athlete.
A life in flow
This is why I decided to become a coach and a personal trainer. I want to help people move away from the idea of fitness and health being a chore and something to endure in order to look a certain way, to a place where people feel great in the moment. I want people to find their flow activity to transform their motivation and mindset for the long term. As Csikszentmihalyi so wisely says: “What would really satisfy people is not getting slim or getting rich but feeling good about their lives”.
If you haven’t already found it, how will you find your flow activity to fuel your positive life?
