I’ve just finished another great read by one of my favorite authors, the psychologist Mihaly Csikszenmihalyi (Mee-hale-ee Chicks-send-mee-high-lee). This one is entitled “Finding Flow”–that state of mild bliss that comes to most of us when we engage in activities with clear goals and challenges just outside our comfort zones, where focused, concentrated effort is necessary to accomplish the task. When we enter this state, time seems to be distorted, either speeding up or slowing down. Our involvement with the task always allows us to forget about ourselves and our anxieties for a while, leaving us feeling “at our best” and “having grown” and “wanting more” flow in our lives after we experience it.
Mihaly has been studying flow and its effects on people since the 1970’s. He points out that about 20% of us experience flow routinely, 65% occasionally, and a sad 15% never experience this state. Ouch.
Having had many “peak experiences” in my life that I can, in retrospect, say were caused by being “in flow,” I am dedicating more of my life to finding more flow experiences than ever. My read of Finding Flow caused an image to pop into my mind that might be useful to all of you who also wish to find more flow in your lives. That image is a familiar one:
The Peace Symbol is divided in half down the center, with each half also divided in one larger and one smaller “piece.” Think of this as your typical 24-hour day. One the left, you sleep for around 8 hours, or one-third of the day. You engage in what Mihaly calls “Maintenance” activities–bathing, dressing, eating, washing the dishes, etc., for about 4 hours, or one-sixth of the day. That’s all the “stuff” we must do, most of which we don’t like to do with the huge exception of eating. The research says we’re happiest around mealtimes. Duh.
On the other side of your day lies work, again for roughly 8 hours, and “Leisure” activities, for the remaining 4 hours.
Mihaly states an obvious but overlooked fact: if we wish to devote our consciousness in time (our two most precious resources) to the most positive life experiences available to us, we must find a way to leverage work and leisure to our advantage in finding flow.
This is why we at BUILT TO LEAD are convinced of the truth of this fact: a MASTER in the art of living makes no distinction between his work and his play; her labor and her leisure. He, or she, pursues excellence in his or her own manner and leaves it to to others to figure out if it’s work or play. To the master, it always seems like both.
And finding more flow comes from aligning your CORE–discovering how your passions, purpose, and process link back to your true identity, beliefs, and values. This is our secret ingredient: a strong CORE will bring you a more fulfilling life. Work and play? No distinction. You’ll pursue excellence in both.
Leisure can be sought in any number of ways, but Mihaly urges us away from passive forms of leisure such as mindless TV watching. No flow there. In fact, research shows we enter a state of mild depression during and immediately after TV watching. Hobbies, good books, deep conversation with loved ones and others are the pathways to flow experiences.
One other truth: Masters often approach simple maintenance tasks as opportunities to find flow. Doing the laundry may not seem all that attractive, but masters have learned how to change their attitude, and accomplish such tasks as a game, investing themselves in doing them to a greater degree of excellence that before. Time stands still, joy breaks in, and flow occurs even in the most mundane situations.
Do you believe that? If so, have you ever thought of applying it to your work? Even if you have a mundane job, there’s always room for that approach to make a dull job more interesting. If you succeed in that, who knows? Employers love employees who seem to find ways of mastering their work joyously. You may just get promoted.
The last truth I want you to hear is this: It’s your life. No one else is in charge of finding flow for you. We all must take responsibility to organize our lives in such a way that maximizes the total number of hours spent in positive experiences that cause us to grow as human beings.
Do you want to find flow?
Do you want a life of excellence, and growth?
Let us know. Meanwhile, Peace Out!
BUILT TO LEAD 
A great post, Jim! Very good stuff. I will surely be checking into that book. I have been in the flow a few times in my life and I can remember the before and after of each one vividly. Of the time I was actually in the flow, however, I have no memory at all, only great results.
If you read about the time that Michael Jordan scored 63 in the Garden with the flu and a fever of 101, he talks about how he doesnt remember anything…other than the fact that the basketball hoop looked as big as a hula hoop. If only our professional goals could look so easy to hit. Very cool.
Thanks, Jeff. I am recommending Finding Flow to all my new clients as a way to gain alignment on what we’re shooting for in the BUILT TOLEAD journey. Hope your new gig has lots of flow!