🧭6 Triggers To Get Yourself Into A Flow State

Good Day, and welcome to The Growth Compass. We are your mental fitness genie that help you with 3 things: mental fitness, resilience, and leadership.

Here’s where we’re headed today:

• Zig Ziglar on peak performance

• Why peak performance means getting into a flow state

• 6 triggers to get into a flow state

• Why sleep is 1 of the most important factors for peak performance

Zig Ziglar on Peak Performance

"Peak performance is dependent on passion, grit, determination, and a willingness to do something poorly until you can do it well."

- Zig Ziglar

Why Peak Performance Means Getting Into Flow

Flow state, as defined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, refers to the state of optimal human experience where you are fully immersed and absorbed in a challenging activity. In this state, you experience a deep focus, heightened creativity, and a sense of effortless action. Flow is crucial for peak performance as it enables you to perform at their best, pushing the boundaries of their capabilities and achieving exceptional results.

Many professionals and athletes harness the power of flow to achieve peak performance. For example, world-renowned tennis player Serena Williams often entered a flow state during matches which improved her sense of focus, agility, and intuition. Similarly, renowned author Stephen King has credited flow for his prolific writing career. He immerses himself in his writing process, losing track of time and becoming completely absorbed in the world he creates, resulting in highly creative and successful novels.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conducted extensive research on flow and its impact on human well-being. He discovered that flow is associated with increased intrinsic motivation, happiness, and a deep sense of fulfillment. Csikszentmihalyi found that people are happiest when they are in a state of flow, fully engaged in challenging activities that match their skills. Flow promotes a sense of mastery, personal growth, and a feeling of being in control, making it optimal for a fulfilling and successful life.

Takeaways:

• Flow state refers to a state of optimal human experience characterized by deep focus and effortless action. It leads to higher productivity, increased satisfaction, and improved emotional regulation.

• Peak performance is closely related to flow, allowing individuals to push their boundaries and achieve exceptional results.

6 Triggers To Find Your Flow State

To find your flow state, pursue activities that align with your interests and strengths. Below are 6 triggers to your flow state:

1. Being Just Outside Your Comfort Zone: This is the golden rule to flow and the idea here is pretty simple…we pay the most attention to the task at hand when the challenge of the task slightly exceeds your skillset. You want to stretch, but not snap. When tasks are too easy, they can become boring, while tasks that are too difficult can lead to anxiety or frustration. Striking a balance between challenge and skill fosters a state of optimal arousal and engagement, promoting flow.

2. Curiosity and Passion: You get focus for when you are curious about what you are doing. Curiosity is designed biologically to be built into passion. When you are genuinely interested and enthusiastic about what you are doing, you are more likely to become fully absorbed in the task and experience a flow state. Think about how much you pay attention to something when you are passionate about what you do.

3. Clear Goals: When you have clear goals, your mind doesn’t wander and wonder what is next because your mind is focusing on the NOW and it is present. This enables you to channel your attention and energy towards a meaningful outcome, facilitating flow by providing a clear sense of progress and direction.

4. Concentration: Deep concentration allows individuals to fully immerse in the task at hand. Put your phone down, shut the laptop, and remove any distractions. Creating a state of heightened focus, leading to a sense of timelessness and increased performance, crucial for experiencing flow.

5. Purpose: A sense of purpose provides you with a meaningful context and connection to their actions, making the task feel significant and worthwhile. When you perceive your work as contributing to something larger than yourself, it enhances their motivation and promotes flow.

6. Novelty and Unpredictability: Engaging in tasks that are sufficiently complex and offer opportunities for exploration and deep understanding can trigger flow. Such tasks require focused attention, problem-solving, and the development of new skills, leading to a sense of mastery and immersion conducive to flow experiences.

Takeaway Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. How are you challenging yourself at a higher level that this isn’t just status quo? (Being just outside your comfort zone)

2. Are you focused on the details and passionate about what you are doing? Because growth happens in the details. (Curiosity and passion)

3. Do I have clear goals for feedback and measuring performance? (Clear Goals)

4. How are you removing distractions? What time of the day do you best concentrate? (Concentration)

5. Do I know my WHY? (Purpose)

6. What is something new that you have tried to solve (Novelty and Unpredictability)

Why Sleep Is Important For Peak Performance

Quick video by motivational speak Shade Zahrai on the importance of sleep for peak performance. She discusses how sleep affects your performances and gives 3 scientifically proven tips on how to improve it.

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