How to tell when you are absolutely ‘in flow’

The question of being ‘in flow’ has come up for me several times just recently.

My business mentor, Lucy Whittington, posed the question at our business retreat a few weeks ago.

It cropped up in the interview with Sue Revell that I recorded for you as part of my online conference last week. (Still time to register or grab a copy of the boxset).

And it came up again this morning as I started to work with a new business accountability partner.

What is ‘in flow’?

Steve Kotler says “Flow is the peak performance state where you feel your best and you perform your best”.

I loved Sue Revell‘s explanation that ‘in flow’ is “When what we do and how we do it are completely aligned with who we are and how we express it”.

How does it feel to be ‘in flow’?

When you are ‘in flow’ everything seems possible and nothing seems impossible. You have a different energy and light.

The right words pour out of you onto the paper or into the keyboard. You don’t have to stop and think. It feels effortless.

You want to dance around the room. You feel weightless; powerful; unstoppable. Time passes by so quickly. Stuff happens.

When am I ‘in flow’?

I am ‘in flow’ when I work with groups of women. I LOVE the magic and the power of facilitating a group of women, open and willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

I am ‘in flow’ when I am in the City. I LOVE the City: the architecture, the energy, the light. Being in the City gives me a different feel, a different energy, a lightness in my step.

I am ‘in flow’ when I am on camera … at home, as the photographer, I am usually behind the camera lens. However when I am talking to camera, whether that’s a photo shoot, a film shoot, on Sky News, or Facebook Live, I love it. I feel alive. It’s exciting. It’s fun.

I am ‘in flow’ when I am interviewing people; whether for my podcast Confident Conversations or for my online conference which finishes at the end of the week. I love talking to inspirational women and experts about their approach to work and life.

How does being ‘in flow’ help you?

When you are in flow, you are more creative, more effective, make better decisions, and perform at a higher level. It makes sense then to identify WHEN you are in flow.

Start by asking yourself which activities, environments, times, or people provide that ‘in flow’ feeling.

Then, as much as possible, arrange your work and day so that you are ‘in flow’ more often. (Hence I’m adjusting my Leadership Confidence programme so that the group element plays a much bigger role).

The more often you are ‘in flow’, the more often it (life, work, career) feels so much easier and effortless, the more your confidence will grow.

What about you? When do you feel absolutely ‘in flow’? I’d love to know – I’m fascinated by ‘flow’.