17 replies to this topic

[Lewis Carroll]

Alright, so this is a thread I've been wanting to start for quite a while now. As the title states, this thread will be covering the optimal state known as "Flow".

 

What is Flow?

 

Flow is when self-aware, consciousness, and self-correcting start to dim. It makes way for the subconscious to seamlessly, effortlessly flow through. It is an optimal state of performance for athletes, researchers, writers, speakers, etc.

 

In Flow, focus heightens incredibly. Action & awareness start to merge, time begins to dilate, performance goes through the roof.. in flow, every action, every decision leads seamlessly to the next… it feels 'flowy'.

 

Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does.

 

 

A Video Introduction to Flow:

 

 

 

 

 

In this thread, I will be posting articles, videos, and thoughts regarding anything and everything related to this "Flow State". It will be a bit like my own personal, open blog regarding the subject.

 

I welcome anyone to post articles, videos, or thoughts/comments!

Edited by MajinBrian, 24 May 2014 - 12:48 AM.

[Lewis Carroll]

Steven Kotler
 
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and co-founder and director of research for the Flow Genome Project. His books include The Rise of Superman, Abundance, A Small, Furry Prayer, West of Jesus, and The Angle Quickest for Flight. His work has been translated into thirty languages and his articles have appeared in more than seventy publications, including New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Wired, and Forbes.
 
 
 

 

Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think (2012)
 
Many Longecity members are probably familiar with Steven through his 2012 book Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think.
 
Abundance: The Future Is Better Then You Think revolves around the idea that the world is getting better and in the future most people of the world will have access to clean water, food, energy, health care, education, and everything else that is necessary for a first world standard of living, thanks to technological innovation. The authors argue progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing, ubiquitous broadband networks, digital manufacturing, nanomaterials, synthetic biology, and many other growing technologies will enable the human race to make greater gains in the following two decades than in the previous two hundred years. By doing so, the authors suggest humans will have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman, and child on the planet.
 
 

 

The Rise of Superman (2014)

The Rise of Superman explains how these athletes are using flow to do the impossible and how we can use this information to radically accelerate performance in our own lives. Kotler explores the frontier science of “flow,” an optimal state of consciousness in which we perform and feel our best.
 

 

 
Book Website: http://riseofsuperman.com/

Edited by MajinBrian, 25 May 2014 - 12:13 AM.

[Lewis Carroll]

Steven Kotler on 'Flow' and his book, The Rise of Superman

Steven discusses his own story - a personal, near-death struggle... and how flow came into his life and made drastic, positive impacts

 

 

Th Rise of Superman

 

Extreme sports athletes have a special ability to tap into FLOW

 

Edited by MajinBrian, 25 May 2014 - 12:25 AM.

[Lewis Carroll]

How to Hack Flow

 

Researchers define flow as an "optimal state of consciousness," a peak state where we feel our best and perform our best. Some of us know this state by other names - runner's high or being in the zone or being unconscious - but whatever the lingo, the experience is unforgettable.

 

If you've ever lost an afternoon to a great conversation or gotten so involved in a work project that all else was forgotten, then you've tasted this experience. In flow, we are so focused on the task at hand that everything else falls away. Action and awareness merge. Time flies. Self vanishes. All aspects of performance go through the roof.

 

We call this experience flow because that is the sensation conferred. In flow, every action, each decision, leads effortlessly, fluidly, seamlessly to the next. It's high-speed problem solving: it's being swept away by the river of ultimate performance.

 

***Check out the full article: 

 

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/03/04/live-life-at-the-limits-how-to-hack-your-flow/

Edited by MajinBrian, 25 May 2014 - 12:41 AM.

[Lewis Carroll]

Steven Kotler on Hacking Flow... Plus Ultimate Human Potential via Flow

 

 

If you've checked out all the other posts and videos, this video doesn't necessarily contain anything incredibly new. However, it's still very fascinating (plus, I think he's a superb speaker). His ideas are something that could really revolutionize life, in my opinion. He is working with his team to completely map Flow by 2020. How unreal would that be? To be able to turn on Flow on command would be incredible...

[Lewis Carroll]

Flow: Just Get Out of Your Own Way 

 

 

We have all experienced moments in our lives where everything just comes together in some almost magical way --whether playing music, participating in a sport, or just getting totally absorbed in a project. These moments are timeless, effortless, completely free of worry and delicious! As described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, this is "flow" and is often a hallmark of exemplary performance --whether it is Michael Jordan scoring 50 points in a basketball game, or someone rising to a challenge that they never thought they would be able to handle.

 

We're lucky if we get into this "flow state" a few times in our entire lives. Is this flow state that hard to achieve? Is it more accessible to all of us than we think? And are we the only barrier that is keeping us getting into flow?

 

Importantly, he details some of the neuroimaging research his laboratory at Yale University has performed using experienced meditators, and how he found that a key region of the default mode network, the posterior cingulate cortex, gets deactivated during meditation. This work suggests that the posterior cingulate cortex may be a key brain marker for both getting in our own way and stepping out.

[Lewis Carroll]

The Flow Genome Project

 

Flow Genome Project is a trans-disciplinary, international organization committed to mapping the genome of Flow by 2020 and open sourcing it to everyone...

 

The Flow State: Flow states, peak experiences, in the zone, runner's high, being unconscious - the lingo is endless. The experience though lives up to the hype. Time slows down, self vanishes, there’s a complete merger between action and awareness - it almost sounds like nonsense, but fifty years of serious research says otherwise. Flow states are now known to optimize performance, enhance creativity, drive innovation,  accelerate learning, amplify memory and underpin happiness itself.

 

The Problem: The people who want to study Flow states aren't that good at having them; the people who are really good at having Flow states aren't all that interested in studying them. As a result, researchers are balkanized, their work occasionally marginalized. There are no coordinated scientific efforts, little cross-pollination of ideas and - as a result - no real road-map towards discovery and application.

 

The Goal: To map the genome of Flow by 2020.

 

View on Vimeo.

 

Website 

...if the above hyperlink doesn't work: http://www.flowgenomeproject.co

[Lewis Carroll]

A video discussing the FLOW state by Jason Silva. Jason Silva is one of my absolute favorite people, and I really enjoyed this inspirational, short video by him.

This is a TWO MINUTE "Show of Awe" video...

 

 

 

A lot of people know Jason from his "We are the Gods Now" talk...

Edited by MajinBrian, 01 June 2014 - 02:15 AM.

[Lewis Carroll]

Your Brain on Improv

 

 

Musician and researcher, Charles Limb wondered how the brain works during musical improvisation -- so he put jazz musicians and rappers in an fMRI to find out. What he and his team found has deep implications for our understanding of creativity of all kinds.

 

Improv = Entering the FLOW state?

[Lewis Carroll]

Dave Asprey talks FLOW with Steven Kotler 

 

 

Ever experienced flow state - the super-human state of high performance when everything is in-sync and you're kicking ass at life? Bestselling author of The Rise of Superman, Steven Kotler will teach you how to find your flow state and stay there. In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, Kotler breaks down the 3 psychological conditions for flow state, the 4 stages of flow, and how to turn it on and off. Steven also tells a great story about his own flow state experiences as a writer, his battle with Lyme disease, and discusses, The Flow Genome Project.

[Lewis Carroll]

One of the books I just finished lately was Robert Greene's "Mastery". It was an absolutely wonderful book that I would highly recommend to anyone. Beside being jam-packed with helpful information and inspiring stories, I felt that the entire 'Mastery' concept was almost the exact same general idea as the Flow State.

 

Once we reach a state of Mastery in a specific area (a sport, art, scientific field, etc.) we are able to tap into the unconscious level of thinking. Since basic (and advanced) knowledge and skills are mastered/attained, it allows one to focus and think about the bigger picture. One is able to step back from the micro and focus on the entirety of the situation (the macro). It is a combination of rational and intuitive thinking that makes up this Mastery state of functionality.

 

One spends years learning, experimenting, and being mentored in order to master a specific skill/field. This eventually allows one to tap into Flow which brings creativity and thought to the next level.

 

 

Has anyone else read Robert Greene's "Mastery"? How did you like it? Did you see a correlation between the 'Master' state and 'Flow'?

 

[Lewis Carroll]

Warren Miller's Flow State

 

A group of skiers discuss their sport and the huge impact that FLOW has on them while skiing. 

 

A short teaser:

 

And a bit longer of a previewer:

[goodman]

sounds like the secret lol

[Lewis Carroll]

sounds like the secret lol

 

I can see why you would make the connection; however, the two are very different!

 

"The Secret" is speculation based on wishful thinking. It's very possible that there's some truth to a handful of the concepts taught in "The Secret" regarding ones control over their subjective reality. However, at the moment, there is no legitimate research backing these claims. It's more New Age-esque.

 

Flow, however, is not speculation. It's a legitimate state of consciousness. The brain operates very differently when in a state of Flow compared to a non-Flow state. This sort of research is made possible with MRI's. I posted a video called "Your Brain on Improv" which follows a researcher as he studies the differences in the brain while a musician is reciting versus when improvising/flowing.

 

This video covers what's going on in the brain in regards to the neurochemicals involved in Flow. (3:45 of the video)

View on Vimeo.

[jroseland]

I read Rise of Superman recently... Here's my video review of the book...

[Lewis Carroll]

I read Rise of Superman recently... Here's my video review of the book...

 

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[jroseland]

 

I read Rise of Superman recently... Here's my video review of the book...

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

Yes hammocks make everything more awesome don't they... Have you read it?

[jroseland]

One of the books I just finished lately was Robert Greene's "Mastery". It was an absolutely wonderful book that I would highly recommend to anyone. Beside being jam-packed with helpful information and inspiring stories, I felt that the entire 'Mastery' concept was almost the exact same general idea as the Flow State.

I read Mastery and Rise of Superman almost back to back and found a lot of parallels as as well...