Cultivating Flow

Flow as the core of a philosophy of life

The author rock-climbing in Texas Canyon, California, demonstrating flow.

What is flow?

Flow is a mental state of focused attention in which we are productive and creative without apparent effort. It can happen when engaging in an intellectual activity, like writing, or while doing a sport, like rock-climbing. I mention these because these are two occupations that are often given as examples of flow. They also happen to be my favorite activities.

Flow was named by the psychologist Csikszentmihalyi, who gave it these six characteristics:

1. Focused attention on a task.
2. Merging of action and awareness.
3. Decreased self-awareness.
4. Altered perception of time, which either speeds up or slows down.
5. Feeling of complete control.
6. Positive emotions like joy, pleasure, euphoria, meaning and purpose.

Flow is a healthy mental state

In another article, The Neuroscience of Flow, I explain the key characteristics of flow and describe the brain neuronal circuits that mediate it. I will not give scientific references for what I say in this article. You can find them in that one.