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:
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