Getting into a Flow State and How this can Boost your Creativity

You know those moments you’re so focused on something, the rest of the world falls away? Time passes without your awareness. You don’t notice if someone is talking to you. You aren’t checking your phone or worried about what’s for dinner later.  

That’s being in a Flow state. Totally connected to the present moment, ourselves, and the task at hand. This is Mindfulness at its best. When we are in a state of flow, we are in meditation. That’s really all meditation is…to be connected to the present moment, accepting it as it is, without trying to change it or judge it. 

When we are in a Flow State we feel at one with ourselves and the experience we’re having.

This tends to happen when we are enjoying our task, though not always. There were certainly several papers I wrote in college I was able to breeze through in a Flow State, without necessarily enjoying the process or the topic. 

Flow States can happen more frequently when we are being creative. There are many different ways to be creative that can bring about a state of flowing with life, as opposed to against it, as so many spend their day doing. Part of this practice requires letting go; surrendering to the present moment as it unfolds without thinking too far into the next step or move you want to take. It also means relinquishing control, which so many people struggle with.   

This is practice is ESPECIALLY helpful if you struggle to control people or situations in your life to manage anxiety. Being in a Flow State more often can help you relax in other situations and accept people as they are instead of trying to steer them into being something else. The purpose of this practice is to, well, go with the flow! 

Being in a Flow State allows the brain and body to enter a state of calm it’s so often struggling to attain in the chaotic world we live in.

Being in this state allows us to reconnect to our bodies, and can actually rewire our brains to be more focused and less distracted with consistent practice.  

When you’re in this state you are noticing and observing what’s taking place. You are not focused on any external thoughts or experiences. You can practice this with almost any task. Take cooking, for example…being in a Flow State while cooking might you inner thoughts might be something like this:  

Okay, first I need to chop these carrots. Look at the color—They are so richly orange!  

I notice where my hands are on the knife. I am intentional about how I hold it. The sound pops each time I slice the carrots.  

I toss those in the pan, and hear them sizzle in the warm pan. I notice the oil as it bubbles.  

Next I chop garlic. Mmmm the smell is heavenly. I notice how the smell changes as I add the garlic to the pan and it heats up. I notice how my body responds to the smell, how my mouth starts to salivate and my stomach grumbles. 

I cut and add mushrooms. I notice how these feel different to cut than the carrots. I notice the smell as they are added to the pan. I add frozen peas. I notice the temperature of the bag as I empty some into the dish. I add salt and pepper. I take a bite and notice the different layers of flavor. I taste the flavors on their own and as a whole.  

I notice the different textures and shapes of the dish. I notice how they feel as I chew and swallow them. I notice how my body responds to this meal. Is my stomach happy?  

When’s the last time you remember being that present with an experience? It’s probably been a while. So many people are going through life on Autopilot, not really noticing what’s really going on within them or focusing on what we’re doing. Our society encourages multitasking as a way of life, a necessary means of survival. But all this does is stress us out.

We need to S L O W down and really S H O W  U P for our lives and ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to really get to know ourselves and discover what we really like. 

Entering a task or situation with the mindset of being in a state of flow with it, allows us to be more present with out experience and gather more insight into whether it is right for us or not. When we in in a Flow State we are not basing the experience on anything that has happened in the past. We are solely focused on the present moment as it is unfolding.  

Great ways to practice the Flow State are through physical activity. For example, when doing yoga, really be present with that experience. Instead of going to a class or watching a video, move as your body calls to you. Move as you feel compelled to do so, without any judgment for how it looks or whether it is balanced. Notice how you breathe, or don’t, as you move. Notice where you hold tension in your body. Notice where movement is effortless. 

Drawing, painting, building, and/or designing are great ways to enter the Flow State. Especially using liquid art materials, as they F L O W, as water does, and allows us to connect deeply to the natural state of flow in life and all things. Gardening is another great activity that also deeply roots us in a Grounded State as well. This is a Blog topic I’ve previously covered, as well, if you want to learn more. These practices are wonderful for healing and rebalancing our Root, Sacral, and Solar Plexus Chakras.  

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please let me know if you have further questions on how to work with the Flow State in your life. Have fun flowing!

To learn more about working with me, click here today.

Sarah Seraphina is a Spiritual Activator and Liberation Guide. She is the owner of Nurtured Essence, a healing space, aimed at helping women overcome their past patterns and fears, so they may thrive and live with more power, purpose, ease, and joy. She specializes in working with healers, recovering empaths and “Damsels in Distress”, highly-sensitive women, lightworkers, and women with a sacred mission.