What is Flow State
The human species has an inherent motivation to strive to be BETTER. Our brains have evolved over 1000’s of years to be a complex network of neurons that enables us to think in a complex and deep manner. BUT why are some more successful at applying themselves than others ?
Learning how to get into Flow state is a widely recognized method of harnessing the power of the mind. When the mind is in “Flow State” it is recognized, by research from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, that the brain is performing at its highest capacity for performance.
Criteria for “flow”
There are several criteria for flow, nominated by the pioneer of the term, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi;
- Intense focus in the present
- Merging of action and awareness
- Loss of self consciousness
- Sense of control
- Distortion of time
- Intrinsic enjoyment – autotelic experience
Also, immediate feedback, potential to succeed, nothing else matters.
Brain function during “flow”
It is hypothesized that during flow state, the part of the brain that is in control of planning and decision making (the frontal lobe), temporarily shuts off, as the more instinctual, automatic parts of the brain take over in a display of masterful skill and intimate involvement with the task at hand. By shutting down the frontal lobe, the brain can operate without hesitation, based on the information from memories and previously learned motor-neuro pathways.
How do you get into flow?
Most of us can probably think of a time when we were in the flow state but most of us also would not know how to get back there if we tried. Essentially we slip into flow unintentionally and then, although we most likely enjoyed the experience, it’s doubtful that we even were aware of the significance of the moment. Researches like across the world are fascinated with flow state due to the knowledge that it creates high performance of the given task.
The question is “how do we get back there on command?”. Of course, becoming aware of what the state is would be the first step. Then learning to find that head space so you can “drop” into flow is then something that can be practiced until it is a skill like riding a bike.
MWE uses the Active Tremor therapy to help teach the mind to learn flow state. By learning this skill, the mind becomes more capable of awareness of flow state and more likely to be able to achieve it on command.
