Ah… the bliss of flow. And… the corrections required for being in those states of bliss.
Yes, really. For every visit to the flow state, we have the potential for both bliss and… the opposite of bliss. The shadow side to the superpowers we unlock.
Today’s work: Which of these cautions feels like the one you’ll most need a reminder of? When we get into a state of flow that feels so damn good it’s challenging to back off from it. Challenging, but essential.
Can you post up a reminder about the correction you’ll most likely need to use? Now? Before you need it too much?
I will definitely need to remind myself of the timelessness factor! That has always been a big thing. And it’ll come down to me setting the timer on my phone to go off in that 90-120 min time frame so that I do pause and take a break, and remember to eat and hydrate.
The other one I will have to work on is effortlessness, especially if I am remembering how my body used to perform when I was younger and was involved in multiple sports every single day. Back then, I had the physical stamina/strength/training to do things like just get up and start snowboarding with a quick lesson. I’m working on building my strength and endurance, but I’m definitely not back at that level.
BAH! that was me.
Remember to really give yourself warmup and recovery time too. I know you’re still young but these favors you build in now will serve you as you reach my age and beyond. 🙂 Glad you’re working with a timer for a while. You won’t always need it… but it’s good for starting that habit of mindfulness!
Selflessness- I often get into narcissistic states- all about me, me, me especially if I spend too much time alone! Which ties in with my primary flow of being a people pleaser. I love connection. I love working together on a project. I love being a part of the whole team on set. I do my best to learn everyone’s names and connect. This last film I’ve been working on so many people have said that I bring their energy up and that they love working with me. I feel like this is my service to the world- an uplifted and energiser. This also fits in with my fascinate qualities as a catylist.
Timelessness- This is so important to remember. Respect the cycle. I have burnt out so many times for working too hard. Now that I understand the flow cycle burn out is happening less and less.
Effortlessness- this for me sings of “take care of my instrument”. As an actress, I get into flow and throw myself around and have the bruises to show for it. This is something I am very curious about exploring. How to stay in flow but still be aware of my physical self.
Richness- this one is the most important one for me to remember…. “The only way back is to leave.” OMG! This is a serious mic drop moment! Back in my Party Party days (not that long ago) I was always the last woman standing. I love the feeling of flow that came from being a party girl. I believe now that as a “stuck creator” my partying was a way of being in flow and connecting with people. It was addictive and I didn’t want to leave. This is bringing up emotion so something’s right here. And now that I am using this energy in a way that truly serves me and others I need to “trust that I can get back into the state of flow”. It isn’t going anywhere- in fact I am always in it- in one stage or another.
This is phenomenal Bonnie. Once again, thank you. X
Absolutely, hon! And OMG, yes on the party girl — me too — and it very much was a way to extend my flow state. Artificially and unhealthfully, but it worked. No more! I’m with you, lady. Absolutely!
As I reflect on each caution, I notice that I can fall into or get caught in experiencing each of them deepening on what I am experiencing and/or exploring in my flow state.
Take aways for me, from this lesson are:
Effortlessness: balancing with strong awareness and listening to/feeling once the flow cycle is moving out of flow phase: ending when it still feels good and I can do more, not pushing through towards injury. In building this understanding of flow, I have more tools and reminders that I can and will get back into that state.
Selflessness: in service! I am always in service, and gosh darn it Alejandra it just isnt about you! always good to have that reminder. AND when i do get a bit lost, to have a good giggle at myself and how ‘indulgent’ i was, and lovingly but firmly get my head back in the game.
Timelessness: future alejandra practises loving self care and prevents burn out by stopping when its good to process and breathe.
Richness: the cycle is neverending and continuous. Value and respect the struggle and the recovery.
How beautiful! Love the work you’re doing, Alejandra!
I get caught in the timelessness trap, for sure. I also get caught in richness, but not in the same way… Another shadowy facet of richness for me is preciousness- wanting to protect the treasure and not “waste” a flow state on a task deemed “unworthy”. What? That voice surprised me- it’s strongly rooted in scarcity.
Mulling this over, I think I’ve discovered these are both catches for me because, up to this point, I’ve never intentionally engineered a flow state. I just drop in and out seemingly randomly, driving me to run a cycle to vapors because I don’t know when that state will reappear…
Light bulb moments, here.
One of my favorite quarantine activities has been doing puzzles and solitaire mahjong on my iPad. I’ll seriously spend a whole freakin’ flow state doing one or the other and it feels AMAZING.
Once I spoke with my therapist about it, not looking for advice about it, just musing on the fact that I was legit spending HOURS doing this mindless activity but doing it REALLY WELL and VERY FAST and getting so much dopamine over each win and even the micro wins throughout the whole thing.
As I was telling her about it, I started giggling and said, “Isn’t it GREAT to be able to find that kind of joy from the part of the brain that used to drive me to exhaustion for the sake of higher and higher achievement?”
I think just that you’ve spotted the scarcity setting there, you’ll get this wrangled in no time (if you haven’t already).
Oooooh, Bon. I had to take a breath on that one… it’s like you’ve taken the unearthed crystal in my hand and just turned it to the light. Thank you, both from today-me, and from near-future-me whose brain can say the same thing!