How to Find Your Flow

The above graphic was developed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as a part of his work on flow.

It shows that we enter a state of flow when there's matching levels of challenge and skill. We're relaxed, interested and focused all at the same time. There's just the right amount of tension to challenge ourselves with - not too much (overwhelm) and not too little (boredom).

For flow to exist there must be a balance between the challenge at hand and the skills of the person engaged in the challenge. If the task is too easy or too difficult, flow cannot occur. The challenge must test the skills of the performer, but the performer's skills must be developed enough for him to move through the challenge with meaning and purpose.

When we're in a state of flow we're said to be in the groove or in the zone. It's almost as if time stands still. There's also no concept of the egoistic self. One is fully immersed in the activity, and there's a seamless movement between thought and action.

I would argue that the more we refine our unique skills, the greater our capacity to enter more deliberately into states of flow. The more we work at shaping our crafts, the more enjoyment we gain out of engaging in challenges that put our skills to test. This gives us the opportunity to enter into increasing flow.

Flow can then be built into who we are as human beings, adding to our happiness and well being.