MiBism 011: My Friend Flow
Over the past couple of weeks I have been searching for a long lost friend. Her name is Flow and she has gone MIA. Like a wave that crashes into shore and thrusts its way back, my friend Flow comes and goes. She used to be very reliable, showing up on cue, pouring just the creative juices I needed to imbibe to perform and deliver. It seems Flow has taken a summer vacation without my consent. I’m concerned this might become a permanent situation so I’m doing some investigative work to get her back.
In the writer’s world, flow is the exact opposite of feeling “blocked.” When a person is in a state of flow they’re open to exploring new ideas, and are resourceful about overcoming challenges. Also, when in a state of flow, time flies by and we become wholly absorbed in the task at hand while the world around us fades into the background. Contrarily, I am currently positioned deep in the center of a cement block. There is no flow.
Scientific studies show that highly creative people have more alpha brain waves. In the alpha brain wave state your mind is lucid while your body is calm. Alpha brain waves are the perfect antidote to stress: They naturally boost serotonin levels and just in minutes can relax the mind and body.
Unique to the alpha state is relaxed awareness. Being in a state of relaxed awareness is an invaluable place to be because it is in this state that people get in touch with their higher thoughts and aspirations.
It is suggested that if you want to be more creative you have to increase your alpha brainwaves. Of the four brain wave states, alpha is considered to be the one associated with creativity and super learning. When functioning at this frequency you’re unlikely to find yourself dead centre of a cement block, stuck and unmoving. You’re much more likely to be high producing. So where has my alpha baby gone and how can I get her back? Well, after just a little research I see that there are very simple things to do to ease the brain into a desired frequency, in my case, alpha. The simple act of listening to classical music, practicing meditation, yoga, breathing techniques or visualization will bring Flow back home where she belongs.
Highly stressed people in particular, benefit greatly from adopting any one of these practices into their lifestyle. As long as they remain stressed, anxious, or bothered they will rarely find their way into an alpha state of mind without employing these tools of assistance.
I am very excited to learn that we can take charge of our brainwaves. We can put ourselves in the right frame of mind to handle events, concentrate in what we’re doing, focus on the task at hand, fall asleep easily, and remain calm during chaos.
Throughout the course of my life I have practiced yoga on and off for years at a time and then stopped. It’s been about two years now that I have not practiced any yoga at all and I am now seeing very clearly the results of having retired my yoga mat. I’m convinced my alpha brain waves are being shed this summer one necessary wave at a time. The ability to stay tuned to the task at hand is just not there. My eyes dart sometimes scanning the pile of papers on my desk, sometimes staring blindly into the screen, other times looking to the rain as it pounds against my window. And all the while I’m creating nothing. I’m restless. My alpha brain waves are crashing. Quick. I need an emergency yoga class!
Whatever your quick fix is, whether it be 10 minutes of deep breathing or drum beating, if you’ve eliminated that which brings your brain to the right frequency for you, then you too are looking for your friend Flow. I will be starting my day with yoga tomorrow and no kidding, I expect to hear a knock at the door!
If you want to give yourself a little kick in the brain try some of these brain-training games at lumosity dot com.