Sunday, September 17, 2017

Getting into the Mode for Optimal Performance

There is a state referred to as "flow" which describes that feeling when we are completely engaged in what we are doing.  While in this mode, we experience “energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity”.A1 Some call this “being in the zone”. 

Achieving this state can be tricky.  By understanding what conditions allow us to reach it, we can ensure that we are experiencing it regularly and maximize the amount of time we spend in it.  A flow state can be entered while performing any activity, although it’s most likely to occur when we are seeking to learn new things and challenge ourselves; when we feel the challenge will require us to stretch but is within our reach.

By getting “out of our heads” we can really have fun with this.  There is a part of the brain that self-edits which is called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (also known as the inner critic or the monkey mind).  When this part of our brain is active, it can lead to over-thinking and self-doubt.  There are periods of time when this is very useful, but there are times when it doesn’t serve us.  Shutting down this part of our brain during periods of creativity can help us reach a new level by letting us really dig into ideas and separating the limiting thoughts to a second round. 

When we can create our own perfect blend of control and surrender, we can truly get beyond ourselves.  A well-controlled environment allows us to truly surrender.  When we find this balance, we can shut down conscious processing, stop worrying about how we will be perceived, and induce altered states of consciousness where ideas blend together.  Pattern recognitions are increased and we’re hurled into the present moment.  By getting into this un-edited creative state while also experiencing the state of flow, it allows us to probe an idea in real-time with fresh thinking.  We can discover new ideas and solutions in real-time.

The best way for me to get there is to have a certain level of pressure to accomplish something but also have a window of time in which I can advance on it.  A timebox creates the excitement to play with figuring it out and helps me tap into a higher level of thinking.  Knowing this, I’ve built writing sessions into my schedule to allow me to continually explore new challenges, process thoughts in the way I enjoy most (writing), and take ownership of the final output.  During the creative sessions, I experience a sense of “plugging in”.  I feel a deeper level of awareness, see things in a new light, and realize how I want to apply these new understandings.  It’s what fills my cup.

By using this method, I am able to turn thoughts around and come up with great clarity. The more time I spend with a thought and thinking of various scenarios around it, the higher the level of genius I can bring to it.  Multiple reviews with a mix of creative and editing sessions, result in my highest quality output.

References:
·        Wikipedia - Flow (psychology)  A1

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