How to enter ‘flow state’ on command | Steven Kotler for Big Think

Ah, you mean that sweet place back in the day when doing expert level Guitar Hero and you have to sort of zone out and not pay explicit attention so that your conscience thought doesn't get in the way of your hand eye coordination doing its thing... Apologies. I couldn't help myself. The difference in score between flow and non-flow on certain songs was just so extreme that it's the most generic thing that immediately comes to mind for me. Probably one of the more enjoyable, too. Outside of actual instrument playing and dancing, or most creative arts now that I'm thinking on it. The Guitar Hero still makes me grin though, so I'm sticking with it. 😂🦋

All you need is an essay due in 2 hours and you can get into flow immediately.

“Flow actually feels flowy.”

Every day let us be grateful for the wealth of free information that is at our fingertips

Triggers
1. Novelty
2. Concentration
3. Unpredictability
4. Awe
5. Complexity

Motivators
1. Curiosity
2. Passion
3. Purpose
4. Autonomy
5. Mastery

I think this flow state is the best state of mind there is. I remember vividly experiencing it during long math problem sets in college. Things just start clicking and I become one with activity itself. It's incredible.

Been paying attention to this guy for close to ten years, when I first saw him talking he was basically like "we know flow exists but we don't know exactly what causes it," glad to know he found answers.

6:45 - "Motivation is what gets us into the game. Learning allows us to continue to play. Creativity is how we steer. And Flow is how we amplify the result beyond all reasonable expectation." - Steven Kotler

"Motivation is what gets us into the game.
Learning allows us to continue to play.
Creativity is how we steer.
And flow, which is optimal performance, is how we amplify all the results, beyond all reasonable expectations."

Golden lines 💛

Flow = relaxed but in control = less thinking, more doing = dancing/ skateboarding/ capoeira/ playing instruments/ martial arts/ chi gong/ juggling all my favourites.
Imagining you are already an expert at whatever it is you’re doing will put u straight into flow!!
We are all connected, so use the connection!!

5 intrinsic motivators in order:
- Curiosity ( focus for free)
- Passion
- Purpose
- Autonomy (freedom to pursue purpose)
- Mastery (skills to pursue purpose well)

Summary of how to get into flow
1. Being just outside your comfort zone
2. Novelty/Unpredictability
3. Complexity/Depth
4. Purpose
5. Curiosity/Passion

Living with chronic illness is like this.
I had awful pain and cfs for 10 years. Then it went into remission randomly (which is rare). I was super human, didnt need much sleep, didn't stress about anything, pain didn't bother me, i could do anything i needed my body to do.

Then 2 years later i caught covid and everything came back.

Taoism emphasizes the flow state or the “Wu Wei.” This is when instead of doing an act, one becomes it. This can be applied to all areas of life. This is 5th to 6th century B.C.

If you want to be in flow. Just relax and don’t think. Flow is literally non-thinking. And trusting. Don’t try to intellectualize it too much.

As an ADHD person, I always found it quite easy to enter that flow state, even more since I became aware of my condition. To be honest, it has been a lot of times even a necessity, to keep my sanity and not be overwhelmed by my own thoughts.

this is the key to awakening to reality. I have often spoken about flow but you have put together the elements so very well

I think the flow state is a pretty good indicator for what you should do in life. If you're unsure about what you want to do with your life, think back to the times when you experienced the flow state. Those are probably the kinds of things you should focus on in your life. Like the video said - the flow state and happiness seem to correlate in peoples lives.

I can force a state of flow through a little routine. Eat nothing and drink little coffee then meditate (15) any meditation , then second half meditation (15) visualizing what you’re goin to do, visualize every feeling every thought you have while at it, relive your past experiences with that thing you’re trying to get into the flow state with. Every single sensation.

I discovered this when I had procrastinated so bad on my school and had a day to finish everything.

Thank you for this. I found "Flow" when I downhill mountain bike...I usually have to manage anxiety daily but when I ride...wow...everything just makes sense and I like that I feel in control even though the terrain and the activity would make most people feel "out of control or in fear". Moving meditation.

The less you are aware of something the more you're presence seems to seep into the flow and everything becomes instinct.