Flow state how to#
I intend to coach you up on how to maintain self-control while also leveraging flow in your business, sport and life. In my future posts I will further shine light on flow's dark side. High-Flow state individuals may benefit from deliberate practices to protect themselves from self-control failure. Knowing of flow's dark side is not enough. Harari (2008), also noted how flow can be experienced in Anti-social behavior such as the act of killing another person.īased on this research, those who do not experience significant flow in their lives may utilize anti-social behaviours to find it. Schüler and Nakamura (2013) found a decreased risk awareness and increased risky behavior. Thatcher et al., (2008) found an addiction-flow link, namely addiction in online gaming and Internet use. Partington et al., (2009) found Flow correlated with dependence in big wave surfing. Here is a quick glance at the original research into the dark side of flow. After all, flow by its very nature impairs our ability to remain self-aware. Bliss junkies are inevitably destined for self-destruction, not self-transcendence.Įveryone is susceptible to the negative consequences of the Dark Side of Flow. Steven Kotler (2014) explained “the dark night of the flow happens when people glimpse the state and can’t get back there which can turn flow junkies into bliss junkies.” In other words, the great highs in flow may lead to great lows. And an attachment to flow can create difficulties coping with the mundane activities of daily life. This addiction may lead to an attachment to find flow. This type of internal motivation is usually a benefit, but not always.Īdd powerful neurochemicals and it becomes appropriate that flow is addictive. The experience itself is what rewards the action, not the consequence. They enjoy the experience itself, so much that they are willing to do it even at great cost. When in flow people can become so involved in an activity that nothing else can matter to them. The sense of control and effortlessness experienced in flow is deeply rewarding. The Dark Side of Flow is also fuelled by an addiction-flow link. We can end up deviating from our long-term goals, values and concerns for our very survival. This is flows gift but may also be its curse.įlow leads to personal growth but we can also become too absorbed into actions. Our typical goal-oriented nature can get the best of us if we can't pump the breaks, and be cool with where were at.Ĭontinually taking on increasing challenges in order to achieve flow can also place people in danger. With the self gone, we can loose emotional and behavioural flexibility needed to adjust effectively to our current context. The Dark Side of Flow may result from the complete absorption of self and narrowing of attention which occurs when in flow-state. Self-control, synonymous with self-regulation, is fundamental to goal attainment.
Self-regulation represents our ability to stay engaged in long-term goals and personal values. I came to understood the Dark Side of Flow to be it's potential to cause negative consequences towards self-regulation. My dissertation was titled, Shining Light on the Dark Side of Flow: Is Mindfulness in High-Flow-State Athletes Predictive of Improved Emotion-Regulation and Self-Control?. The Dark Side of Flow became the focal point of my three year dissertation study.
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