The "I'm on a roll" feeling

[Lonewolf]

Everyone has had this feeling a few times in their life, where everything seems to be going right and you have this feeling of excitement and positive anticipation and boundless confidence. What some people call "Flow" or the "Optimal Experience".
Does anyone have any ideas about how you could make this your basic state?

[RT Wolf]

I think Maslow defined it as a "peak experience". Being in the moment is a good thing. I went for a sensory walk today. It was awesome.

[frankinsense]

To make it your basic state that would require you to never do anything to get yourself down. I think it would be better to focus on doing more things right in the first place.

[annie]

I would say to live from your purpose.....

when you live with intent instead of by default...life flows.

[FearlessGhost]

I heard a quote recently, "excitement is a killer", which got me thinking. Everyone experiences ups and downs and what makes an up an up is the good feelings that come along with it and the downs are experienced as the opposite feelings. For me, when things are really clicking, it is as if there is no emotion, or rather no reaction to the emotion that has just occurred. Actually there is only one action and that is the total release of the emotion with no other reaction involved (the logic behind this is worth a study).

So my perspective is that when going through ups or downs, figure out why emotions are reacting to life's circumstances and why there might be action stemmed from the emotion.

And if the sense is that everything is going right? it could just be that there is no emotional reaction or little of it to life's natural balancing act.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

I think Maslow defined it as a "peak experience". Being in the moment is a good thing. I went for a sensory walk today. It was awesome.

37signals just wrote a great article all about flow.

[WanderingOak]

From the 37 signals article, it seems as if to be 'in the flow' or 'on a roll' one must be completely focused on a task at hand. Now that sounds like a good state to be in when one is actually working on one project or another. I've been that way myself on many occasions. However, it also tends to lend to tunnel-vision, IMHO. Because I am so focused on the task at hand, I tend to lose awareness of everything but the task or project. When I am running 'in the zone', all I think about is running; when I am driving 'in the flow', my main focus is the road and the traffic around me; when I am mudding drywall and 'on a roll', my work is my primary focus. The outside world does not intrude, unless it relates to what I am doing. Again, it gives me great focus when I have a set task to accomplish, but if there is a non-task related intrusion it tends to set off my rhythem. Also, if the unexpected comes up while you are 'on a roll', well that's when you run into a Brick Wall. That's why I don't have my cell phone on when I'm driving. Also, when I am between projects, I may not necessarily have a focus, so being 'in the flow' would be counter-productinve IMHO. Then, I need to have a clear mind that will go in any direction as needed, so I can determine what needs to be done next, otherwise I could wind up 'in the flow' grooming my cat for a few hours, resulting in a very happy cat, but not much else.

[ahimel]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

From the 37 signals article, it seems as if to be 'in the flow' or 'on a roll' one must be completely focused on a task at hand.

I've heard that also. They recommended exercising that "focusing" ability whenever you have a chance. Examples of focusing exercises include trying to focus on a single player in a football game for an entire play, or focusing on a single instrument when listening to music (my dad sings the trombone part), or paying attention only to the person in front of you at a party. Not recommended while driving, since it's important to take in all input, but it can be a great exercise while you're waiting in line -- try to watch only one clerk, or listen only to the person behind you in line.

[Lonewolf]

A great exercise is actually washing the dishes in a state of absolute mindlessness and focus on perfecting dishwashing technique. Zen monks do this with a range of domestic activities. Dishwashing is special because as you clear the external clutter of your life, wiping in clean and putting everything in their right and ordered place, so too the inner world will reflect this external "ordering" process.
I find that if I do this immediately before I begin work I am much more likely to be disciplined, focussed, dispassionate and together, which are all good conditions for flow.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Going with the flow can be good or bad. Let me take an analogy from a river's flow. If you were stuck in a river and the current was strong, going with the flow could lead to either a waterfall or a delta. It all depends where the flow is taking you...use this analogy however you wish.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

A great exercise is actually washing the dishes in a state of absolute mindlessness and focus on perfecting dishwashing technique. Zen monks do this with a range of domestic activities. Dishwashing is special because as you clear the external clutter of your life, wiping in clean and putting everything in their right and ordered place, so too the inner world will reflect this external "ordering" process.
I find that if I do this immediately before I begin work I am much more likely to be disciplined, focussed, dispassionate and together, which are all good conditions for flow.

Reminds me of that old Zen saying, 'after enlightenment, the dishes'

[Lonewolf]

Yep, at least you can be doing something usefull rather than just sitting down and staring blankly. I think meditation can just be another escape or form of procrastination if taken too far; though I practise it several times a day myself!