How To Relax Your Wandering Mind By Getting Into The Flow

The sensation of the slowing down of time, while the world around us appears to be speeding up, is known as the flow state. This state of mind, is when the illusion of time and space appears to hypnotically come to a standstill.

This conscious flow state, is the mindset you want to reach when it comes to peak performance.

What it equates to is the ability to harness the limits of your creativity, intelligence, and talents, while captivating and remaining in this state of flow under times of stress.

This flow is needed for those who need to produce or perform on cue. Instances include athletes, actors, singers, or when making a speech. Where concentration or instant recall is required.

The ability of being able to deliver the “goods” at will and on time, being able to perform to perfection.

The key on how to unlock this inner vault of control is the phenomenon known as the flow, which is separate from any application or specific usage.

What Is The Flow Process

We all experience this flow phenomenon, and is more common than you think.

It occurs the moment before we fall asleep, or when we first wake up in the morning. This is also referred to as the hypnogogic state.

It occurs when we’re on the freeway on a long distance drive, as we’re driving and paying attention but lost in complete thought, on autopilot.

Then suddenly we jolt to attention once our exit or stop appears. This is known as flow.

You go for a jog, a bike ride or a walk, you go dancing the night away, watch a good movie or live show, all flow.

What’s suddenly realized is how quickly time has passed, an hour of actual time feels like minutes.

You fall into a semi hypnotic state, as your mind blends with the activity or event.

How Does This Flow Happen

For all of these events, once we’re in the flow, all share something in common. It is the dissolution of the subject at hand, the object of the relationship. The filter is removed.

The writer melts into the words of the novel they’re writing. A marathon runner blends with the pavement. A singer synthesis with the music, a lover infuses into the beloved.

Once you stop being less self-aware, the nerves dissolve, what begins to fuse is a direct connection between all the disparate parts, which is the activity.

The Road To Achievement

This as if they’re stepping back out of their body, to get a wider view of themselves, as they meld together in a place of intimacy.

Getting lost in this way in a flow state, is what some consider to be the path to genius.

The most difficult being able to harness and control this flow under times of stress, duress, or blockage.

This is considered the very single and perhaps the key, when it comes to the greatest of performances by humans. The extraordinary among us, in any arena of life.

There is thought to be no such thing as talent, separate from the intense focus which is required to manifest it.

Go With The Flow

As a result, there are a variety of disciplines which addresses the harnessing of this flow state. Some steps are considered mystical, such as: Tai-Chi, yoga, meditation, prayer.

There are also clinical methods available, that are capable of familiarizing oneself into this state of mind.

“Winter Largo” which is a classical musical piece by Vivaldi for instance, clocks at precisely sixty beats per sixty seconds.

Running long distances, is known to activate this flow. Rhythmic walking, dancing the night away, and even cooking or gardening.

There are an abundance of other activities which activates this sacred mind space. Just think of those moments in your life, when you felt time actually began to slow down.

Use This Simple Technique

One of the key core techniques which is used, is a vertical cross section of disciplines. The most prominent being how you control your breathing, which is also the simplest.

This is important since breathing, the intake of oxygen is the only physiological process which is both voluntary as well as autonomic, and the key to the unconscious mind.

Learning to breathe properly, deeply and slowly especially under times of stress, activates the flow response. Doing so allows for the access of deeper creativity and wisdom.

This can occur once the day gets hectic, you’re stuck in traffic or late for a meeting, you’re behind on a project which is due before noon.

Proper Breathing Is The Key To Get Into The Flow

• Proper Breathing Techniques – Learn to breathe deeply down into your stomach at all times. To practice this, lay on your back and place a book directly on your tummy. As you begin to inhale, it should rise. When exhaling, it should fall back. Your chest should be moving as little as possible during this time.

• A Bit Of Arithmetic – Remind yourself 5 times a day, everyday, on every hour which is divisible by 3, such as: 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, 6PM, and 9PM, concentrate on your breathing technique for 60 seconds. Learn and practice while you’re driving, while in meetings or at your desk, when walking down the street or while shopping.

• Know When You’re Under Stress – Recognize those times when you’re under moderate stress, and then automatically practice these proper breathing techniques. For instance, during your exercise class, during an exam, while your public speaking, or caught in the middle of an argument. These and anytime you’re experiencing a stressful or anxious situation.

Just Flow

Learn to breathe as calmly and deeply as possible during these times. Once doing so, you’re patterning your nervous systems threat response.

This enables you to calm yourself down, to enter into the flow state.

There are other methods on how you can activate and enter the flow. The simplest modification which you can make, that has instant effect is by learning to breathe properly.