Many people find it difficult to reach the desirable state of flow, in which time seems to stop and work becomes effortless. When someone is fully engaged in a task, he is said to be in a flow state. When someone is “in flow,” he might not assess their performance, consider why they are doing the work, or realize how much time has passed. They stay completely focused instead. I personally experienced this frustration after being locked into routine work. White noise and coffee were helpful in the short term, but true flow remained distant.
Writing after work, however, offered a surprising contrast: I never had any trouble achieving my natural flow state when I was writing. My journey to find the answer began with this personal experience. I discovered a typical barrier after years of researching flow: “I can’t get into flow.” Still, writing came naturally to me.
The Missing Ingredient
It takes more than just looking around time to be “in the flow”; it takes achieving total involvement and razor-sharp focus, which causes the hours to pass so quickly. When you remove distractions from your job, whether through deep work habits or strategies like white noise or music, you reach this peak state.
It is interesting to note that not everyone is in this state. High performers, such as athletes, authors, directors, and business owners, often accidentally tap into the flow. Books like Steven Kotler’s “Stealing Fire” and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s “Flow” were enjoyable, but occasionally I felt like there was something missing. My intention is to provide a fresh point of view that surpasses the scope of current options.
The Solution Is Simple
The solution was revealed in a random tweet rather than in tricks or diversions: “It is rare to get into flow. Yet finally, entry is simple, and the flow is instant. So that is when the true start of obsession begins.” This apparently simple phrase revealed a crucial awareness: obsession gives rise to flow.
Think of activities you lose yourself in—hobbies, passions, even games. What motivates you there? A keen interest and a strong desire to investigate, conquer, or produce. True creativity is not just fueled by external influences but also by the fire that burns within ourselves.
How to change an obsession into a flow state?
How then do you start this internal fire? These are some recommendations:
Do what matters to you
What causes a genuine thrill in your heart? Investigate, test, and find things to do that pique your curiosity and inspire you. I came to see that mastering my talents and focusing on activities with a defined end would be the keys to living a fulfilling life. It is simple for you to get affordable dopamine rushes by investing a lot of time in activities that you justify as being useful but fail to develop your skills or produce any results.
Start with the difficult task
Recently, I watched a video by Rian Doris, and it resonated with me. In order to avoid procrastination stemming from feelings of overwhelm, he emphasized the significance of breaking things down into small, achievable steps.
On the other hand, his link to the state of the brain struck me as especially insightful. Rian says that when our brains are less critical of ourselves and more open to concentration in the morning, it can be beneficial to take on the most difficult work first. He suggests giving this technique thirty minutes. This routine has the ability to induce a flow state.
This approach identifies the psychological obstacles underlying procrastination and provides a workable solution. All it takes to make a big difference is to reorganize our tasks and utilize our morning cognitive state.
Take on an easy task, sometimes
I suggested starting with the hardest thing, didn’t I? Well, those challenging strategies don’t always work. Even when you break your task down into manageable, basic steps, you still don’t seem to finish it. As a result, you must gain a little momentum before you get there.
That’s when easy tasks come in handy—they serve as momentum boosters. delivering little bursts of dopamine that reassure you and say, “Hey, you really can accomplish things.” This includes simpler emails, messages, and other things like that.
Accept the challenge
Don’t back down from assignments that call for your highest effort. Go beyond your comfort zone and take on tasks that will test your abilities and experience.
As someone who likes to dig deeply into things, this is certainly my most useful tip. I have a passion for exploring. I like to turn over all the rocks to explore all the possibilities. It can be as easy to enter this flow state as just casually reading mood boards and sources of inspiration, in my opinion.
We can solve problems and put ideas into action rather than just talk about them. It can be challenging, but this is a direct method. I refer to it as “working together on research and solutions.”
Take a chance with your inner voice
Ever noticed yourself muttering to yourself while at work? No, you are not alone. It is something I do frequently as a writer. I feel like I have an in-house coach that is always talking things through, encouraging me, challenging me, and probing me with questions. It makes you wonder if it’s a characteristic specific to just kids or if it is something that writers do. Whatever it is, I find that this private conversation helps me stay productive and focused. It is like having my own personal fairy godmother, just more independent and less glittery.
Keep in mind that experiencing flow involves more than just being productive; it also involves entering a state of profound contentment and satisfaction. You can reach the full potential of flow and improve both your professional and personal life by pursuing your passions, accepting obstacles, and establishing meaningful goals.
Flow versus Obsession
According to Tej Dosa, mastering flow states is not as important to success as finding your actual passion and following it with complete dedication. He believes that when you are truly excited about something, you are going to perform at your best—that is, be completely focused and productive. A strong desire to accomplish something is undoubtedly a powerful motivation. A strong desire for something drives you to invest the time and energy required to accomplish your goals. In addition to increasing job satisfaction, deep passion can lead to even greater achievement.
It is important to remember that Dosa’s argument is not without flaws. Not every person is blessed with the opportunity to discover their own interests at a young age. There will be moments when it is challenging to maintain motivation, even for those who do. Hence, what should you do if you find it difficult to maintain motivation or if you haven’t yet found your actual passion? Dosa suggests starting with small wins. Respect your accomplishments, regardless of how small they may seem. This can help you keep your motivation and confidence high while you pursue success.
Conclusion
The secret to success is to discover what works for you. If you truly believe that identifying your own passion will lead to happiness and fulfilment, then you should absolutely give it your all. However, don’t give up if you find it hard to stay motivated or if you are doubtful of what your actual passion is. There are many different routes one might take to accomplish something.
Sana Ahmed Khan is a life coach and author of multiple books from Islamabad, Pakistan. As a certified life coach and author, Sana is keen on helping women from all walks of life. Sana empowers you to overcome self-doubt, find balance, and become your best self through her guidance focused on mindful living, social skills, and personal development.
