Learn the Flow Process as Antidote to Burnout

I've been studying and writing about the effects of creativity on our psyche for many years, but it's Covid-induced isolation that helped me see that the need for accessing our creativity does not just lie with artists, scientists, and other creative minds, but is a necessity for all, despite our level of skill. Creativity is the antidote to burnout - FOR EVERYONE.

This diagram from the Ted talk by a renowned Carl Jung follower and psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi just came across my feed and if you take a look on the left, you see all the imminent effects of our psychological trauma over the last two years.

Through countless corporate workshops, self experimentation and while working with children, I have discovered that when people learn how to access flow, all the areas on the right manifest in an organic way. Participants are generally happier, more balanced and relaxed, more in touch with their inner selves and empathetic to others. On a personal note, during the two years of handling Covid overwhelm, I have seen a staggering amount of friends and relatives sink into depression and anxiety, while my constant access to flow and creativity kept me content, energized and focused.

Moreover, despite popular belief that in order for flow to occur, at least ten years of technical practice in an area of expertise are required, I discovered an easy proprietary method for accessing flow and therefore everyone's innate creativity. It doesn't matter how long someone has been perfecting their skills in violin practice, painting or dance, flow is a state that we can each enter and benefit immensely.

It's my life's mission to connect people with their creativity and therefore I wanted to share this process, encourage you to try it and pass it on to all who can benefit from its long term effects.

Try this 4-step method while you're doing a hobby you're passionate about, or a business task you're struggling to complete. It works in all areas of our life.

1. Become present: Meditation is a trite word these days. It's been overused, misused, and misunderstood. What you want to do is feel your physical presence in a particular space, at a particular time, in your particular state. You want to ground your body and let your racing mind relax for just ten minutes: feel the smells, the movement, the way your varied body parts are interacting within the space.
2. Dissolve into surroundings: When you open your eyes, pay attention to every line, every shape, every color around you. Move your eyes across the multitude of planes in front of you. Attempt to become one with the world, be a part of it, not separate from it.
3. Experiment: pick up varied materials, play. Imagine that you're a little child who just learned basic techniques. Allow yourself to make mistakes.
4. Release the end result: We've become such a results-oriented society that we unlearned how to enjoy the process, how to not place expectations on what we create and how much time is invested in that creation, regardless of its ultimate success. Once we allow our imagination to take over and roam freely, this truly opens the door to that beautiful flow state where we feel like it's not even our hand creating, like a magical force or energy is guiding us along, like all kinds of true connections are happening and we're serene while relinquishing control.

These four easy steps lead to flow every single time. Try them. I would love to hear how this goes for you once you do. Of course, I'm always happy to guide anyone along the way to flow, so do not hesitate to reach out.