What is ‘creative flow’ and how do we find it?

What is ‘creative flow’ and how do we find it?

‘Being in flow’ is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot when discussing creativity these days. So what is creative flow? And how can you find it?

Last week I asked what being in flow felt like for different people, and the responses included a sense of joy and liberation, and a feeling of timelessness and getting lost in what you are doing while in ‘the zone’. Some of you also responded that this led to you forgetting the little worries of life, and others said it felt like they weren’t making but ‘being’.

All of these seem to fit closely with the descriptions from ‘father of flow’ psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who coined the term in the 1970s:

‘My mind isn’t wandering. I am not thinking of something else. I am totally involved in what I am doing. My body feels good. I don’t seem to hear anything. The world seems to be cut off from me. I am less aware of myself and my problems.’

This week on the blog I’m looking at the history of research into flow state, what it feels like, how we can improve our chances of finding it, and what can get in the way.

But it’s important to remember that flow is really an ‘optimal state’ of being. As I write in the post:

‘For some of us, life just isn’t conducive to easily finding flow. Time, energy, space...all of these resources can make a difference. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still engage with creative activities that will bring you joy, help you learn a new skill or develop your creative confidence. It’s important to remember there is still real value to things that interest you and you enjoy doing even for a few minutes - these also bring a sense of achievement and reward.’

If you’d like to read more then you can find the post over at my blog ‘On Creativity’ by following this link.