Being in the flow...

Today i am in the flow. I have been painting. The rest of the world did not exist apart from my canvas and me. The medium was oil pastel and the subject was my imagination. Hours have passed.... and it is still light outside! Bonus ;)

Flow is a new concept for me. Well i knew about it because i felt it when i was 'in the zone' but did not know it had a definition.

Wikipedia says...

Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Proposed by positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi.

Being in the flow creates energy & positive feelings, and so can lead to a heightened state of satisfaction and/or happiness within ones self.

Flow activities are challenges that we can see progression or level/skill up in. They are not so easy to do that we become bored or they can be done by everyone or so difficult that they are impossible.

Now i know... i can see i actively pursue flow activities such as photography, painting/art, writing, yoga, cooking, origami (new), etc. Archery is also a new one i'm researching to do...

Unfortunately Wii games are not considered flow.... shame, i'm getting quite good at guitar hero ;)