photo credit: yogendra joshi
It’s a famous saying isn’t it? “Time is money!” And certainly time can be charged out in a monetary way. If you were to hire me as your coach, you’d find that my coaching fees are based largely on time.
But our lives at their best are too broad and magical to be measured by either time or money.
Flow
Think of a time when you completely lost yourself in an activity. When you were completely involved in what you were doing. Entranced.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi refers to this state (in his classic book) as Flow. We are totally immersed in our activity, brimming over with creative joy. Unaware of the passing of time and certainly not thinking even remotely about money.
How long ago was it that you last reached this state of flow? What were you doing? How can you open your life to more experiences of flow?
Pilgrim’s Moon is taking a short break now until after Easter so I leave you to reflect on these questions over the next few days. I’d love to hear your experiences and ideas.
I was just having this conversation with my daughter in love who is having a dream come true by making a wedding dress for a handfasting this Beltane…..
This might sound strange but I felt this joyful flow this January whilst supporting a family who had lost a young son and helping to create and then conduct the funeral service. Midst such heart rending grief, there was this light touch of joy and certainty that I was doing the right thing…..
Kate, the wedding dress-making sounds wonderful and your expression ‘daughter in love’ is just fantastic.
Actually I don’t think your example of supporting this family is strange – your description of certainty is an important part of flow.
Can “flow” apply to reading? I get so engrossed in a book that if I need to stop reading at a certain time, I have to set a timer. I’ll get out the book and tell myself I’ll just read a chapter or two, and the next thing I know, I’m turning the last page and its 4 o’clock in the morning!
I have achieved “flow” though in my hand crafts, but I haven’t been handcrafting in a while. I really feel the need to start back. I want to make a set of snowflake ornaments for a special lady, and I’ve got lots of “makings” for jewelry. . .and sewing. . .and finishing that folding screen. . . .
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WOL, when I was about eight, we had a reading period at school. I sat at my desk totally engrossed in the book I was reading (can’t remember now what). I was vaguely aware of all the other kids playing around and talking and laughing. Then I gradually became aware of silence all around me. I looked up to find the teacher standing right in front of me. Apparently he’d called my name three times because it was time to move on to the next lesson. I’d been totally unaware! So yes I’m certain flow can apply to reading.
Good luck with your handcrafting – there’s something very special about it as an activity.
my last ‘flow’ experience was while art journalling in my altered book and the experience was the subject of my most recent post
may your easter break flow smoothly for you
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Kel, I just hopped over to your post – I love that we both had this experience in mind at the same time.
synchronicity is a splendiferous thing
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Good topic,Tess.
flow is a wonderful state and feeling and I think with the pace of life having become too fast,we miss this wondrous aspect.Slowing down,learning to say no,getting our priorities right and relearning to be in the present-all of these will lead us to that state.
Happy Easter Holidays.
Uma
Thanks uma, yes this slowing down is vital!
I seem to have the greatest flow when I’m outdoors, creating or tending to my garden, or bicycling or running. Sun and warmth increase my flow — but the Portland sun is fickle as a bad lover
I too have the book called Flow!
Thank you for the concept of ‘flow.’ I can think of writing, gardening, walking the Camino, sometimes cooking…
Being in the Now basically, not being self-conscious, aware of me…
Happy Easter, Tess!
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