Ah… probably one of the most important parts of the flow cycle.
RECOVERY! In fact, the non-negotiables of recovery are so very important, I’ve devoted a whole segment to this topic.
Today’s work: What are your non-negotiables for recovery from states of flow? Revisit the double-whammy of Day 15 and Day 16 in our Get in Gear for the Next Tier program to refresh your memory on how next-tier you feels about walling off non-negotiables and then come back here to discuss how the supporting of those commitments can increase your ability to jam in states of flow throughout the day.
How often are you engaging in non-negotiables that support states of flow? Often enough, compared to how much you’d like to create at your highest potential, shutting off your inner critic and living in the zone more and more? Or not often enough? If not… what can you change today to lean in the direction of supporting your best flow state?
I am getting so good at the recovery stage. I know when I need to take myself away from everything. And when I listen to this and actually do it I replenish the well.
Last night I was going to join the other actors for dinner but I had had a big day- my first photo shoot where I had to properly pose and shit. And I had a rehearsal with the acting coach and we went so deep! I was tired so I went to the supermarket and bought food, went to my room, read my book….it was glorious. I have woken up today feeling wonderful! Ready for another day and whatever it brings. I adore my recovery time and I am unapologetic in taking it!
I’m really loving watching myself go through the stages of flow! Yesterday, there was some miscommunications about whether the photo shoot was in character or not and I ended up feeling quite tense and controlling as I didn’t have my things with me- clothes, shoes etc. This was coupled with this being my first shoot other than headshots and simple editorial stuff. This was the struggle. And then I actually shed a couple of tears because this is what I have wanted for years. And then I was in my flow.
I love this stuff! X
LOVE your awareness as you progress through these totally natural stages of the flow state, Andromeda! This is so delicious to witness and I *love* that you protected yourself with such unapologetic boundaries. Really wonderful!
Cool stuff, you guys! I’m taking all of this one bit at a time (thanks for making short videos, Bon!). Trying to understand what my flow is. If I’m a Crowd Pleaser (since I left my job, I haven’t been in enough crowds! I gotta plan some social goodness this month!), then… I think my recovery state IS total chill. Allowing myself to have an “unproductive” (although recovery IS productive) day or evening. My husband is way less social than I am, so I’ve always valued the fact that he can help ground me in a positive way when I’m spinning out from too much flow! I think I’ve been currently stuck in the struggle zone, though, mentally, so I’m trying to let myself fall into that release so that I can fall into the rest of the cycle! 🙂
Yes! It’s *so* important to let the cycle COMPLETE! So glad you’re clicking with this and you’re welcome for the short vids. 😉 Flow can definitely be an overwhelming (or very dense, at least) topic, so keeping this easily consumable was a big goal of mine! Yay!
Ok, I am back. After one week in Romania living my next tier dreams I came back to the UK and have been bed-ridden for a FULL WEEK. Really awful. Haven’t felt that ill in years. Won’t go into the details.
So, was this one big recovery period or an ULP? A combo of both? Not sure.
I am going on holiday to South of France today for some healthier recovery. I will have time to journal about it.
Ooh, I wonder if this had some ULP to it! I know I’ve had crashes after big tier jumps too so there’s definitely something to that. But it’s also just *natural* to need recovery — and depending on how hardcore into flow we were, it could’ve been a requirement to need THAT much recovery. I’m eager to hear what your journaling turns up! Glad you’re back and excited for your next adventure!!
Bonnie: “Hydrate. Drink water, drink water, drink water”
Me: grab my water bottle and drink half of it.
haha
But I love recovery days. Its interesting that you mentioned mani/pedis in active recovery, because when my mom was in San Diego for work and I went to visit her, we went and got pedicures. Her and I would get them back home and it was always so nice and relaxing… but having a pedicure done with my mom in San Diego was weirdly uncomfortable. I don’t know what it was exactly, but it just wasn’t relaxing like it used to be, and I found myself wanting it to be done almost as soon as it began. So I’m definitely going to have to find my new active recovery.
But I definitely worked on recovery Saturday. Thursday night I went out to Thirsty Third Thursday, and Friday I grabbed all you can eat Sushi with some friends in Santa Monica. Saturday I worked all day (and was KILLIN it all day), and had a couple people invite me out to grab drinks or go to a concert after, but I was so exhausted and feeling drained from the previous evenings that I decided to stay home and relax. My roommates were gone, so I had the place to myself. I made some pizza, watched Marvel’s The Defenders, and just allowed myself to zone out.
So good.
Oh my gosh, that sounds amazing. I like to call times like that “inside cat” status. When I need to be inside cat, there’s nothing like having the place to myself and luxuriating in my DOWN TIME! 🙂 Love it! I’ll be interested to see what you use to replace the mani/pedi tradition (for now; it may cycle back to feeling great).
After an “I-wish-I-hadn’t-taken-it-on-survival-job” for the past weeks, and then playing inside-cat (ha, I love that!) for alsmost week, I feel my creative juices flowing back.
The interesting thing was that the whole time I was absent from here, I was very conscious of when I needed to take a break. Coming home from the job and then pushing myself to do ONE thing that brings me closer to my dream was enough. And then reminding myself to really take a break to *support* my flow cycle felt good and healthy!
My non-negotiables continue to be half a liter of herbal tea in the morning and my foot massage before I go to bed. Also, I finally manage to sit still and eat in peace and without distractions because a part of my brain tells the rest of it that this is recovery time. This actually works 🙂
ps: I had more writing ideas in the past week than I had in the past year… … … !
How WONDERFUL, Julia! And not at all surprising about all the writing ideas that came in while you were so good about giving yourself your non-negotiables, taking BREAKS to support the flow cycle, and just trusting that even time spent in a job you’re less than thrilled about having taken can’t kill off your creative momentum! <3 LOVE all of this! So good!
Love this reminder to reap the benefits of recovery. As an athlete, giving my muscles/body time to recover after a race or difficult training day is a given: and yet, how I have treated recovery in relationship to my artistry has been so contradictory.
But, I am really appreciating the joy, stillness, and quiet ease that comes with recovery and the incredible completion and wholeness that comes when I actually fulfill the full cycle of flow.
What I am super conscious of right now and focused on exploring is:
the balance of the necessary recovery/ inside cat time
tuning in to when i am slipping into indulging in the rest when what I really need is to get my groove on, in whatever manner.
AKA balance and listening to my intuition/artist: what I actually need and when I am ready to transition into the next state of being.
Beautifully said, Alejandra! Love that awareness!