Flow 03/31/2010
 
Alone, flow is a word of multiple meanings that all revolve a similar set of principles – movement (motion) and time. Perhaps one of the most interesting concepts of flow is proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, who characterizes it as:

The mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

Often it is referred to as being “in the zone” or “in the groove”. Mihály’s concept just may be the thing keeping me going right now, as it is nearing 3 in the morning and I cannot kick the urge to be productive. Flow represents a state of completely focused motivation, sans emotion or anxiety. Mihály associates 9 factors with the state of flow:
    1.     Clear goals
    2.     Concentration
    3.     A loss of self-consciousness
    4.     A distorted sense of time
    5.     Direct and immediate feedback (success and failure is
           apparent so adjustments can be made)
    6.    Balance between the levels of ability and challenge (neither
          too easy or too hard)
    7.     A sense of personal control (over the activity or event)
    8.     The activity is intrinsically rewarding
    9.     Becoming absorbed in the activity or event (awareness and
          action merge.

As I started reading more about flow theory, I began to recall different events or times in my life where I experienced what I consider to be flow. Times when I was playing baseball, and I was able to concentrate so hard that things seemed to move in slow motion all around me. Times when I was playing jazz, and fell into that wonderful groove where you are no longer playing thoughts and notes, but communicating feelings and emotions. I think there are different versions or variations of flow. For instance, the two examples I mentioned were more intense and occurred over shorter durations of time, but what about when you stop and think about the last month or even the last year and have that same realization but on a larger scale. We all have had those times where we ask ourselves, “Where did the past month go?”

What was most interesting was what Mihály characterizes as the result of flow. Many people have reinterpreted and repurposed Mihály’s concept of flow to drive toward productivity and improved performance; however, Mihály suggests that the true “hallmark” of flow is achieving a feeling of spontaneous joy while performing a task.

How do you characterize flow?
What do you do to try and achieve the state of flow?
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