How to enter ‘flow state’ on command | Steven Kotler for Big Think

In this practice

Key teachings

• Cultivating present moment awareness through focused attention
• Synchronizing breath and movement to achieve an 'effortless effort' state
• Understanding catalysts for mental absorption and deep concentration

Ideal for

• Practitioners interested in the mental and psychological aspects of yoga
• Individuals seeking to improve focus and concentration in daily life
• Anyone looking to understand the neuroscience behind peak performance states

Lesson

Instructions

Peak performance mind hack explained in 7 minutes.

Flow is described as a state of 'effortless effort,' where we feel like we're propelled through an activity, and everything else seems to disappear.

More specifically, flow refers to any moments of rapt attention and total absorption. You're so focused on the task at hand that everything else seems to disappear.

Researchers have discovered 22 catalysts that can help you prepare your environment and quickly drop into a flow state. A few of these include distraction management, dopamine triggering, and concentration.

Read the video transcript ►

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of ten bestsellers (out of thirteen books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. Steven is also the cohost of Flow Research Collective Radio, a top ten iTunes science podcast. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he is the cofounder of the Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary.

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Steps

• Dharana (concentration techniques)
• Pranayama (breath control for focus)
• Mindful movement and sequential flow (Vinyasa principles)
• Meditation (to deepen absorption and reduce distraction)

Benefits

• Enhanced mental clarity and focus
• Reduced mental chatter and distraction
• Increased sense of calm and well-being
• Improved ability to enter a state of deep engagement