Many of my postings describe what flow is; that effortless state where time dilates allowing learning and creativity to accelerate. However, this posting brings forth flows nearest neighbours – flight, fight and freeze.
These three are common experiences before we kick into flow. They can form part of the struggle phase that builds our ‘fitness for flow.’ We respond by wanting to hit the ejection button, get out as soon as we can even if the way down poses risks. Or
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The state of optimal performance doesn’t come out of thin air. Instead it operates as part of a cycle. Sometimes we get lucky and stumble across it, but I’d much rather engineer this cycle so that I can perform optimally almost at will. The cycle consists of 4 stages…
Struggle
Release
Flow
Recovery
We have plenty of struggle to overcome, so today I want to take a somewhat comical look at release. Here we need to decompress and break away from the norm. Otherwise we
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The traditional paradigm of learning is skills development. However, the emerging approach is state development. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Skills are important, but their impact has a direct correlation with your state of being. Well-being and being well. Heart, mind and spirit.
For example, picture yourself as a skilled presenter who is also enjoying the birth of a new born child. In your sleep derived stupor the potential impact with your audience may well be limited.
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Optimal performance requires identity, in work terms how do we define our role. A vision to keep us on track, a view that steers clear of activities that add little value. I once had a role as Training Officer, my most junior role in L & D. If I ever rise to the dizzy heights of CEO, I’ll have the identity presented back to me. Even roles like partner, advisor, officer and consultant still don’t cut it.
I prefer to liken
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In my last posting (How to reboot your operating system) I talked about the benefits of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Training. In this posting I’ll do a quick demo for you. If you want to try this at home all you need to do is buy an Inner Balance sensor from HeartMath.
Essentially it gives you feedback on your current state. Quantifying your mediation practice (or equivalent) if you choose to pursue one. Simply plug the sensor into your phone, which automatically opens
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Dave Asprey who is the Founder of Bulletproof often talks about our out of date operating system. We require an upgrade otherwise we are stuck using primordial technologies.
We are primed to flight, flight – a classic survival mechanism. We want to eat everything, from tail to nose – its no wonder food cravings rocket in the fast food environment. And of course we want to have sex and give birth to a new generation.
So we need a reboot! One of
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In my last posting (How to develop habits in 8 easy steps) I shared everything you need to know about forming habits. But what if you had a to do list that also helps you to form good habits? Well the Streaks app does exactly that. I have tried to consolidate my intentions in one place for a very long time…apps, journals, screen savers, reminders and back again. But this simple app trumps them all.
Why? Well for a start you
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One great way to indicate that learning that has taken place is the formation of habit. Not an action plan at the end of the course, a one hit wonder that has little or no sustainability. Instead a practice that you can adapt and adopt perhaps even on a daily basis. Loads of great research has been done recently, and as usual here I am handing it over to you in a short and sharp video. I’ll follow this up a 2
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The Flow Genome Project define the 4 characteristics of a flow state as selflessness, timelessness, effortlessness and richness (STER). Giving us the chance to define our own moments and movements. Knowing when we are in flow – the opportunity to push on when we are at our best. An opportunity to leverage, not one to be missed.
Deliberate risk taking, putting our words and body on the line as we loose our sense of self in the moment. Self-help, that has
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Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal are the co-founders of the Flow Genome Project. In my mind they are leading the way when it comes to the psychology of optimal performance and flow states. So when I heard that they were writing a book (Stealing Fire) I hit the pre order button as soon as I could.
I wouldn’t dare recommend a book I haven’t read. But having trained with these guys I devoured all the free resources during the book launch, so I
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