Flow; optimal readiness & peak performance

In Csíkszentmihályi work, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Csíkszentmihályi outlines that people are happiest when they are in a state of flow—a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation. It is a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.

The idea of flow is identical to the feeling of being in the zone or in the groove. The flow state is an optimal state of intrinsic motivation, where the person is fully immersed in what they are doing. This is a feeling everyone has at times, characterized by a feeling of great absorption, engagement, fulfillment, and skill—and during which temporal concerns (time, food, ego-self, etc.) are typically ignored. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi)

Below graph is taken from Csikszentmihalyi flow model as a 2d-representative of where flow is happening; in between the state "arousal vs control". It is the work of followflow to add to the challenge level the notion of heart rate frequency and to the skill level the notion of heart rate variability.

And as such when both challenge level (motivation) and skill level (ability) is for both high ... people tend to go into a flow state.

So there are two types of in-roads into flow. In this introduction of the model of flow you could see that there are two entry points into flow.

Here summarized as;

- at the lower flow range in between worry vs boredom,

- at the higher flow range in between arousal vs control.

You may ask yourself which two entry points?

You may select a

- high challenge to enter flow, or you may select a

- high skill to enter flow.

What will it be? Which one it will be?

There are two entry points into flow and you could select one or both as an entry point;

select a challenging activity and/or

select an activity in which you really excel already

This upfront selection of activity already prepares your body and mind into a performance mode of operation.

As part of this flow preparation (challenge and/or skill)

I herewith propose a two step flow entry approach. Here i come with a suggestion; what is a challenge for you

- cold or a warm shower, or bath?

Where do you have skill in; a warm or a cold shower or bath?

So why is this? Think about it.

Next time i will present my idea's about this, and why this is the same for most people.

To be able to differentiate between what is a challenge and what is a skill.

For most rich people a cold shower/bath is a challenge.

For most rich people a warm shower/bath is a skill.

Why rich? You are able to pay the bill for a warm shower/bath or not?

So why is this? Modern rich people are trained to have a warm shower/bath. And are not familiar with a cold shower/bath. That's why. So the set point of average modern rich people is warm is skill. cold is challenge. And it is due to past-history-training.

What does it have to do with flow? Temperature change is a trigger for body and mind to adapt to a challenge. And so shower/bath temperature change is a possible scenario for go into flow. As a change vehicle. For challenge going into flow.

The good thing about a cold shower/bath as a challenge is that the resting heart rate is going down so you start to get more relaxed and your heart rate variability will increase and so you start to get peacefully.

Who does not want to be more relaxed and more peacefully via a challenge going into flow? This is step 1 of the two step approach for getting into flow.

Just challenge yourself by taking (slowly, relaxed and comfortable) a cold shower or cold bath. And while you are in that cold shower or cold bath; you have the time to think about what next flow challenge you are going to do skillfully when you are out of that shower or bath; immediately thereafter as a second next step into flow. Take your time for it. What flow dreams may come?

Followflow app shows time after time that you body and mind are really fast recharging while being within a cold shower or bath; so when comfortably and relaxed and slowly adapting,...just after a cold shower/bath you can do more than you could do.

Have a blissfully flowy day. So for having a blissfully flowy day you need;

a challenge entry point,...

a skill entry point,...

An intention to just do it, and so to follow and do that flow challenge and/or skill entry point.

What is your actionable intention?

You actually can measure real time flow via the followflow app.

You maybe be interested in a tool (www.follow-flow.com) measuring real time flow being able to measure muscle power, and energy potentiality of your bio capacity. You bio capacity charge level. Having impact by increasing flow.

For apple; https://apps.apple.com/us/app/followflow/id1367827233  

For andriod; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.followflow.alpha  

Bliss with Followflow app now in combination with e-clothes.

This is the ideal combination. 

Including Flow Power feedback; you body charge level.

Here the specific e-shirt i am talking about;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psZ2YxISNns 

Sensor's - especially within e-shirts, are great wearables. This combination

 e-shirt - flow - Followflow app seems to have a valid application in the fitness and/or workspace area. 

Experience flow by combining this gear;

1. https://store.sensoriafitness.com/sports-bra-red/ OR https://store.sensoriafitness.com/t-shirt-short-sleeve/

2. Polar H10, or Polar H7 ; and click the sensor on the clothes

3. App for Apple; https://apps.apple.com/us/app/followflow/id1367827233 OR 

App for Android; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.followflow.alpha

Get ready for the next step in Followflow increases flow!

Additionally information flow sources are;

- https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/followflow/?viewAsMember=true

- https://www.facebook.com/groups/607535200198942

- https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/follow-flow-optimal-state-jurjen-s%C3%B6hne/  

As a reference the followflow workbook can be reviewed here;

https://drive.google.com/file/d/135mA4dZb7L6LHihfknIoZSayv0b7XUxK/view

Let me know your questions. Just do.

Reality (Flow Power - energy -) = actuality (attention) * potentiality ( intention ).

Kind regards,

Ton de Graaff

CEO Www.follow-flow.com

Let me know whether you would like to cooperate further in this direction or you know a company being potential interested in such a service and tool?

The Followflow app and Flow+ are now available!

The Flow+ app for apple; 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flow/id1205474605

Required sensor is Polar H7, H10, MoveSense, Pulson, Maxim health band, or Sensoria.

Wahoo TICKR – Only Bluetooth is HRV accurate

BlueLeza HRM Blue – Only available in Europe

4iiii Viiiiva

Zephyr HxM (make sure it’s Bluetooth 4.0 not 2.0!)

Cardiosport TP3

Suunto Smart Belt

R1 Blue Sigma Sport

Now such a flow increasing tool is available.