To Flow or not to Flow … a Question we all must Address Sooner or Later

Would it be fair to say you love what you are doing right now, who you are spending time with … your job, your pastimes, your family and friends?

 In fact, we would expect a big “yes” to this question – why else would you invest so much time and energy into them all.

 However, have you ever experienced ongoing success and ‘flow’ at the level you believe you are capable of … and what might mean for you?

 If you were asked to score your success to date what would it be … if your answer is “good” or less, then ask yourself this …

• what would it be like to actually realise your potential
• what it feel like to be in flow with your natural talents and achieve the outcomes in life you always envisaged … to live an excellent life.

 Would anyone say no to that?

 So, to help put, and keep, this in perspective, let’s highlight what we mean by ‘flow’... because ‘being in flow’ is the strongest influence on your ability to realise your potential, and fundamental to enjoying ‘the good life’ … to have versus not to have.

 By definition, being ‘in flow’ is a psychological phenomenon that sees a person completely focused on what they are currently engaged in, behaving and performing to the best of their ability, and with ease.

 The sensation felt is that of the time slowing down or standing still, with the person lost in their own world, relaxed and in control.

 This sense of being in flow is triggered by a number of neurochemicals, including ones everyone is reasonably familiar with (such as dopamine, norepinephrine and  endorphins) as well as one you may not be familiar with … anandamide (the mind’s natural marijuana), which suggests it is actually a physical catalyst (which we can all achieve in the right circumstances).

 Anandamide triggers a mental state in which a person undertaking an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of engaged focus and involvement, with their emotions positively energised and aligned with the task at hand.

 And, it can evolve into a sense of addiction … an addiction for being in flow as much and as often as possible.

 In other words, flow is the path of least resistance. When we are in flow occurrences line up, events fall into place and obstacles melt away.

 People in flow focus on their natural talents and tasks they love to do but also appreciate they need to temper that through applying leaned behaviours when and where necessary to keep themselves on track.

This in turn increases their productivity, sense of enjoyment and the amount of fun they enjoy.

• If you are feeling joy and rapture completing a task you are in flow.
• If you feel depressed, overwhelmed or anxious you are out of flow. 

So, what’s stopping most people from experiencing the success that comes from being in flow across the many and varied things they do each day?

 What it would be / feel like for them to do more, be more, and ultimately experience more with all they seek in life.

 A question to start you thinking about your own unique world – what would you need to do … what are you prepared to do … to achieve your most desired outcomes across all areas of your life, to experience success day in and day out … to be ‘in flow’ by choice?

 Before reading on we invite you to identify what specific things or areas of your life you would address in response to the above.

Perhaps you might like to jot them down as a ‘mind map’, if that helps, so you can come back to them and think more about them as you continue reading. Some thoughts, for example, might be to …

• set realistic personal targets to aim for in your life
• enjoy more quality family time, maybe work on growing a great relationship with that ‘special person’
• establish your own personal identity and self-worth.

 Now, here’s an even more important question to think about … if you were able to achieve all you have identified above …

•  Would you see a difference?
• What would that difference look like? What might it feel like?
• More importantly, what is the major difference between you having all this, and not having it?
• What would it mean to you … what would it give you?

 Believe it or not, the ‘difference’ for most of us is no more than a hesitation, a lack of belief or even an inability to actually appreciate just how unique and valued we already are.

 We all have the ability to control this and to create (and live) the life we deserve. So, what makes a successful person stand out from the rest? It isn’t just the physical talent required … it is the willingness to invoke positivity when addressing life as a whole.

 You, as a ‘person’ (ie the physical you within your environment), are a reflection of your thoughts, emotions and personal behavioural traits.

 And … you have the power and ability to control your thoughts and emotions. They can be positive (empowering) or negative (pulling you down). Your choice.

 Successful people ‘think above the crowd’.

 They recognise the sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from being all they can be, by being in tune with their natural (and learned) strengths and weakness, aware that to focus on weaknesses can only serve to detract from their strengths.

 They understand how to be in flow with their unique selves.

 What we think, day by day, is vital for success, because we all have the capacity to think whatever we like … and, our thoughts impact on our emotions, our personal life, our relationships, our health and, of course, even work.

 You have the potential to block, or access your own future success, to be in flow or not.

 But what does that ‘look like’ for you?

 That is a question only you can answer … so think and decide wisely, because your future success depends on your current thoughts, decisions, and consequent actions.

 Flow can only occur, and be maintained through positive awareness and committed intention.

 So, again … ‘To Flow or not to Flow’ … that is your question and yours alone, to answer.

 If you want to learn more about how you can more easily and consistently be in flow and embrace the success you deserve, why not contact us on admin@9pillarlifestyle.com.au or Click Here to organize a 30-minute discovery chat.