In the flow

Have you tried it?

To be so engulfed in something that you forget time and space, and only focus on what you are doing at that exact moment in time?

Flow, as used in psychology, was named so by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  (try say that fast three times!), and he studied when people were most productive, and created their most compelling work; when they lost themselves in what they were doing. Watch him give a TED talk on the subject here.

Weightless existence 

It happened to me the other day. I was drawing and listening to classical music, and all of a sudden 1½ hrs had gone by and I hadn't even noticed. It was wonderful! My brain was switched off from all distractions, and the only things that existed were my pencils, my hands, the paper and the image in my head I was drawing. I can't say it was the best piece of work I have ever made, but the feeling afterwards was fantastic. It felt as if I had slept undisturbed a whole night (I have a young child, so that doesn't happen often), or been injected with some magical energy drug. I had a great sense of accomplishment and a positive vibe that stayed with me for a long time. I was happy.

Controlled challenges

Flow happens to me when I am creating something. A drawing, a photograph, whatever. When I am using my hands and my brain to translate something from an idea to an actual object. When I am feeling challenged and in control at the same time. I am hunting for that feeling now, every day I try to find it, and I am enjoying the chase.

Have you found your flow?

Spirituality

What does spirituality even mean? And being spiritual?

For the longest time, I had no clue. I thought you had to be a hippie, far out there, high or just plain weird to have anything to do with spirituality. But I have gotten wiser. After losing myself and hitting rock bottom, I came to realise that it is all about being in the moment, connecting with your own feelings, and listening to that little voice inside that we call intuition. I believe women have the gift of intuition given to us at birth (and some men might too), but we are taught that it is only facts, proof and science that are valid. What we sense and feel is being looked down upon as something less important.

I know now for a fact that is it not true. I know I can use my spirituality, intuition and feelings to improve myself, and the world around me. I know I have the power within me to change my life, my situation, and the life of others that depend on me. I know that my thoughts are connected to my feelings, which are connected to my physical body, which again is connected to my thoughts. I know now that you can’t unplug one part and think that the others will function perfectly. It is all connected, whether we want to or not.

So, sit down, listen, feel, be still, be quiet, be kind to yourself, connect. And change the world.