Comments by "Misty Culous" (@mistyculous9644) on "Big Think"
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Do you have a "favored" way of getting into a flow state??
These days as a trigger to get into flow I use Alexander Technique - it's a discipline about how you can respond to go into action with less effort. The mindfulness "practice" of A.T. gets us into a state of flow as a by-product - you can use your sharpened senses in any skill that you'd like to better.
The longest period I've inhabited a state of flow was once for four straight days. I was an adolescent and went to classes, I did everything in this altered state of consciousness. I had learned that what made it come to an end was heavy-handed analysis or pondering something from my past or trying to second-guess what someone thought about what I was doing. As long as I imagined myself as a witness and continued to make the observations of the present now, the state continued.
I was really interested in these "triggers" that were outlined, thanks! My triggers had nothing to do with physical challenges. Although when in a state of flow once I was able to run indefinitely without getting tired in scorching heat - for the pure joy of it. Fortunately, some people had their sprinklers on, LOL.
My triggers for entering into a state of flow was to first interrupt and suspend my internal dialog as a discipline. My goal was to stop narrating and talking to myself for as long a time as possible. However long I could stop it - then I'd become aware and completely absorbed in my environment.
For me, what happened next was an appreciation of beauty. Natural beauty, the beauty of people and how they move, how they're shaped, their voices, guessing intention without imagining anyone was doing something nefarious. I could look at cars or buildings with curiosity about what someone's intention was when they made it the way they designed it.
I guess this means my biggest means of access to flow - for me it's the category of awe.
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