The Origins of the Flow State
And how to enter it.
Being ‘in flow’ has been widely described as the gateway to creativity and innovation – to discovering entirely new ideas, seemingly instantaneously or without (at least consciously) being aware of where they came from. Another way to describe this is divine inspiration. In modern times, ‘divine inspiration’ is often seen as a turn of phrase that describes the feeling of the experience, not meant to be taken literally. But is it possible that it still holds literally?
In his book The Art of Impossible, Steven Kotler discusses how to convert the “impossible” into possible and achieve our greatest purposes in life. He refers to the critical role of flow in this process, and relies on scientific theories and principles (i.e., not divine) to explain the mechanics of how and why flow works to enable humans to reach greatness. In particular, Kotler relies on evolution to explain why we have developed neurobiological processes that, when properly leveraged, drive motivation and enable us to reach the ideal state to obtain resources, survive and thrive as a species. He notes:
‘As high-minded as something like “meaning and purpose” might seem as a driver, this is actually evolution’s way of saying: Okay, you’ve got enough resources for yourself and your family. Now it’s time to help your tribe or your species get more. This is also why, in the brain, there’s really not much difference between drivers. Intrinsic drivers, extrinsic drivers, it doesn’t matter. In the end, like so much of life, it all comes down to neurochemistry.’
Kotler provides a breakdown of that neurochemistry, of chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin and how they motivate and reward actions aimed at success. He says: ‘Flow may be the biggest neurochemical cocktail of all…This potent mix explains why people describe flow as their “favourite experience",” while psychologists refer to it as “the source code of intrinsic motivation.”’
While the neurochemistry of flow is informative, it only explains the mechanics of what is happening in our brains and bodies when we are best positioned to achieve breakthroughs. The chemical activity does not explain the ‘why’ behind the ‘how’, i.e., where do new ideas come from, or what is the source of our most innovative ideas and creations?
As mentioned earlier, Kotler credits evolution for fashioning humans into a species that is able to, in the right circumstances, focus, plan and act to make breakthroughs. That would suggest humans themselves come up with new ideas and achieve great things when they are at peak performance, and we have developed this gift over time in order to survive and advance as a species.
But is it possible that it isn’t humans at the peak of evolutionary development who are responsible for new ideas, but that there is a cause outside of ourselves – universal and timeless – that we happen to be channelling when in flow? There are many proponents of this alternative view, who suggest the true cause of innovation is God or the divine (also referred to by many other descriptors such as a higher intelligence, source energy or the universal mind). According to this view, when humans are their most creative, they are connected to the divine and channelling ideas from that source. And this idea has been put forward not just by traditional religious or spiritual schools, but also by modern secular thinkers who are increasingly finding connections between their research and ancient teachings.
Before delving into these alternative frameworks, it’s worth first noting the points of agreement:
Flow is a universal phenomenon that all humans can tap into under the right circumstances. Kotler cites research by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in noting that the ‘state is universal, showing up in anyone, anywhere, provided certain initial conditions are met’.
Which leads to: there is a consistent formula for reaching flow (for example, focus or meditation). Notably, Kotler acknowledges the importance of presence in entering the flow state:
‘Flow follows focus. The state can only arise when all of our attention is directed at the present moment. So that’s exactly what all [flow] triggers do: they drive attention into the now.’
There is a particular neurochemistry at work when we are in the flow state, which indicates when we have attained it.
Beyond the neurochemistry, what exactly is happening when we’re in flow that leads to new ideas and the seeds of inventions and great progress?
Proponents of divine inspiration would argue that when our own mental chatter is minimised and we are still or focused on the present moment, we’re able to connect to a higher intelligence through our subconscious mind and tap into an infinite resource of information and tools far beyond our own finite capabilities. The subconscious mind is part of the universal mind, and its language is intuition. In The Master Key System, Charles Haanel states:
‘It is through the subconscious that we are connected with the universal mind and brought into relation with the infinite constructive forces of the universe.’
He further notes, ‘We must become a channel whereby the universal can express activity. The universal is constantly seeking to express itself, to be of service’.
Haanel credits the above process for the ability of renowned thinkers and creators, such as Shakespeare, to intuit their ideas or perceive great truths ‘which are hidden from the conscious mind’. And that would suggest we are not personally responsible for our genius – in the realm of ego – but that our genius derives from a far vaster and universal intelligence that we are a part of (like drops of water belonging to the sea).
In her book Big Magic, author Elizabeth Gilbert describes ideas as ‘disembodied’ and separate entities to the humans through which they are channelled. She continues:
‘Ideas have no material body, but they do have consciousness, and they most certainly have will. Ideas are driven by a single impulse: to be made manifest. And the only way an idea can be made manifest in our world is through collaboration with a human partner. It is only through a human’s efforts that an idea can be escorted out of the ether and into the realm of the actual.’
Gilbert suggests if a person fails to pick up on an idea, it will carry on its way seeking another host who will intuit it and commit to seeing it through. She provides an anecdote of an idea for a novel that she received and began working on, which she then put on hold for more than two years because of other life events. By the time she returned to it, the idea had left. Gilbert describes it as, ‘the living heart of my novel was gone… I knew at once that I was looking at nothing but the empty husk of what had once been a warm and pulsating entity.’ In a strange turn of events, Gilbert discovered another author who she had only recently befriended had independently intuited the same (and very specific) idea at the same time Gilbert had lost it. And this author saw the idea through to completion – with a published novel.
So if we accept the theory that ideas are everywhere waiting to connect to humans through our subconscious mind, then what can we do to invite them to connect with us?
This question leads back to the suggestions made by Kotler regarding the prime conditions to enter flow and make intuitive hunches. As quoted above, Kotler notes that ‘flow follows focus’ and that ‘flow triggers’ work by driving attention into the now – either by addition, that is by inducing chemicals which increase concentration, or by subtraction where the cognitive load of stress and distraction are removed and energy is freed up to focus on the task at hand. He identifies curiosity, passion, purpose, autonomy and mastery as key flow triggers as they are able to effectively redirect and amplify the energy available to focus.
Therefore energy, and where it is directed through our attention, are key. In this respect, retrieving energy by subtraction is particularly interesting. If we let go of repetitive and unproductive thought processes, split between worrying about the future and rehashing the past, and other things that distract us from the present moment, we can harness the energy these things use up to remain open to inspiration. Elizabeth Gilbert says:
‘When an idea thinks it has found somebody – say, you – who might be able to bring it into the world, the idea will pay you a visit. It will try to get your attention. Mostly, you will not notice. This is likely because you’re so consumed by your own dramas, anxieties, distractions, insecurities, and duties that you aren’t receptive to inspiration…But sometimes – rarely, but magnificently – there comes a day when you’re open and relaxed enough to actually receive something. Your defenses might slacken and your anxieties might ease, and then magic can slip through.’
Dr Joe Dispenza refers to this process as going from being a ‘somebody’ to a ‘nobody’. In the former state, we are identified with our false or egoic selves – that is, who we think we are, the sum total of our background, life experiences and self-imposed narratives and limitations. In the latter state, we discard the false aspects of ourselves and pare back to our essential, true selves. Being a ‘nobody’ means we are no longer carrying the burden of a false identity and so meld with the universal mind, or unite with God. We become vehicles of the divine, an offshoot of a vast intelligence at work. This is who we really are. But to realise it, we need to surrender what is non-essential. We cannot connect with the divine without surrendering what we aren’t. Rumi describes this in his poetry as cleaning the mirror so it can reflect God’s light.
In this way, less is more and nothingness or silence are the gateways to the divine – which explains the value of meditation. Eckhart Tolle discusses these concepts at length in The Power of Now, noting ‘Presence is pure consciousness – consciousness that has been reclaimed from the mind, from the world of form.’
So while conventional thinking would suggest the mind is the key to genius, it is becoming increasingly clear that though the mind has its place as an incredible tool, it isn’t the source of true creativity. To discover the seeds of new ideas and greatness, we need to transcend the mind through awareness and flow. We can then wield the mind correctly to act on what we discover. Hard work may still be required, but inspiration and intuition will ensure that work is guided properly towards a higher purpose.
Haanel sums this all up as follows:
‘Whilst we have not the slightest apprehension of the modus operandi, the subconscious soul like a benevolent stranger works and makes provision for our benefit, pouring only the mature fruit into out lap. Thus ultimate analysis of thought processes shows that the subconscious is the theatre of the most important mental phenomena… Ease and perfection depend entirely upon the degree in which we cease to depend upon the consciousness… And the greater, the nobler, the more brilliant our thoughts are, the more it is obvious to ourselves that the origin lies beyond our kin.’
Flow is the principle of the universe through which creation manifests. It is up to us to stay open and receptive enough to enter the flow state and access the infinite resources available to us.
