Fueling Confidence Through Flow

Today, I want to talk about the importance of building confidence in order to achieve high performance. As you know, confidence is a key ingredient in the recipe for success, and without it, we're like a ship without a rudder - drifting aimlessly, and unable to navigate the choppy waters of life. It is that intangible quality that separates the best from the rest. When we feel confident, we can take on the world, and nothing can stop us. But when our confidence wavers, we can struggle to achieve even the most basic tasks.

And if you're an ambitiously minded athlete, business leader, artist or scientist hoping to reach the next level of high performance, you might want to consider a great lifehack: access your inner flow state to supercharge your confidence.

Quick reminder - flow is that sweet spot we enter when we're feeling challenged, yet relaxed. It's the optimal performance state where our focus and creativity skyrocket and we can fully maximize our talents.

Linking Confidence With Flow

Research suggests there is a positive correlation between increased flow states and higher levels of self-efficacy, a belief that one can set and achieve goals. Accessing flow can also build a stronger sense of identity and purpose, prompting us to reflect on who we are and what we're able to achieve. People are also more likely to take risks in flow, a critical component for furthering our personal and professional growth.

Research has also shown that accessing flow can not only improve our performance, but also our confidence. According to a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, individuals who experience more flow in their daily lives report higher levels of self-confidence, which in turn leads to better overall well-being. In a study conducted by McKinsey, they found that executives who frequently experience flow are five times more productive than their peers. Another study found that athletes who access flow regularly have higher levels of self-confidence and perform better under pressure.

Case Studies Galore

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is an athlete who used individual flow triggers to boost confidence and performance. Phelps has spoken of his pre-race routine, which includes visualisation and breathing exercises, as well as a playlist of energising music to help get him in the zone.

Alex Honnold, the world-renowned rock climber, used flow state triggers, such as visualization and deliberate practice, to boost his confidence and climb the world's hardest rock faces without any safety equipment…wow!

Navy SEAL David Goggins, a renowned endurance athlete who has achieved many outstanding feats, attributes much of his success to the ability to access flow, saying that it enables him to stay focused and push further than most people think is possible.

LeBron James, a dominant basketball star, uses group flow triggers to create team chemistry and foster relationships among his teammates. James has been known to organize team dinners and post-game celebrations to keep his teams connected and motivated.

And last but not least, we have Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan was known for his incredible confidence on the court, but what many people don't realize is that he used flow to cultivate this confidence. By setting clear goals and challenging himself in practice, Jordan was able to enter flow states consistently, which helped him build his confidence and elevate his performance.

Flow vs Peak Performance

Flow and peak performance are different but related skills. Flow is the joyful experience of being fully in the moment. Peak performance, on the other hand, is the result of accessing flow over the long-term; it's the steady, long-term progress we make in any field of endeavor.

It's important to build flow first and then leverage that skill to achieve peak performance. That's because flow is the 'gateway drug' to peak performance; it's the tool we use to keep showing up, pushing ourselves and achieving more.

How to Fuel Confidence with Flow

If you want to access flow and supercharge your confidence, try these simple steps:

1. Identify your personal flow triggers e.g. music, challenges, visualization
2. Set clear goals and intentions to stay focused
3. Routinize your practice, so that your mind and body are in sync
4. Practice mindfulness and self-care to remain connected to yourself and the present moment
5. Incorporate short bursts of creative activity into our daily routines. This could mean setting aside 10 minutes a day to write, draw, play an instrument or even write a short story.
6. Celebrate your successes, big and small

It can’t be stated enough that the key to unlocking your inner flow state is practice, practice, practice. By engaging in regular practice, we can ride the waves of flow and access the soaring confidence that comes along with it. And by engaging in creative activities, we are teaching our brains to access flow more quickly and easily. And as we deepen our practice, our confidence continues to grow.

Conclusion

Flow and confidence go hand in hand. By accessing flow, we are able to access higher levels of confidence, allowing us to reach peak performance levels in any area of our life. It can provide us with a sense of purpose and identity, make us more likely to take risks and also promote steady, long-term progress in any field. With the regular (and deliberate) practice of various methods mentioned above, we can learn how to access flow, elevating our confidence and creating a domino effect of optimal performance in all areas of our lives.

If you'd like to keep receiving notifications around my future musings on all things high performance and flow, don't forget to subscribe to this newsletter if you haven't already. And if you'd like to go one step further, to work with me and other peers on putting these ideas into action in your life, consider signing up for future cohorts of my highly-rated live online courses on high performance mindsets & habits, designed for leaders at all levels, including hired CEOs, family business owners, startup founders & senior executives. Check out this link for more information.