The Ebb and Flow of Life – Let’s Lean Into Flow
Welcome back, Impact Leaders! In our previous, post we introduced you to our multi-faceted approach. The aspects of your life and the ripple effects of your intentions and behaviors are all interconnected. That is precisely why we leverage our approach.
We empower Impact Leaders, like you, and your team from the inside to drive growth and profitability through introspection and aligned action that leverages the best of:
Foundational and cutting-edge leadership approaches
Flow science principles
Human-centered systems thinking
Human flourishing, positive psychology, and behavior change
Wellness as a foundation with whole health optimization as an edge
Let’s dive into one aspect – flow science principles. Flow can be described as:
"An optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best."
Steven Kotler
There is also Team Flow: a shared experience of flow derived from an optimized team dynamic during the execution of interdependent personal tasks.
Why should you care about flow? We need more people to come alive to their purpose, to activate radical collaboration – to be true Impact Leaders. Flow serves as a foundational and scaffolding tool to support leaders like you and it’s a state of optimal consciousness when we perform AND feel our best. This is not hustle culture or apathy; this is a sustainable remedy. At a time when we’re bombarded with so many distractions, it's imperative to reclaim our focus, attention, and engage with purpose.
Flow cycle: Struggle Phase
Did you know Flow is one part of a 4-step cycle? Each stage has its own neurobiological changes in the brain, and understanding these stages can help you navigate the cycle and increase the amount of flow in your life. You may be very familiar with the first step of this cycle – Struggle. Think of a time when you were working on something important to you. It was frustrating and difficult and then at some point, it clicks, something shifts and all of a sudden connections are made and the work becomes effortless. By the end, you are left feeling elated and empowered. This is the flow cycle and it can be trained and cultivated.
If you’re reading this, you know learning and growth happen at the edge of your comfort zone. Struggle is a necessary component of that process, perfectionists be damned. It is not something to be afraid of or avoid. However, you can indeed become lost in the struggle if you do not have sufficient tools, resources, and support.
If you and/or your team feel stuck in the struggle, the good news is you’re already on step one! Let's work together so you can struggle more gracefully!
Flow cycle: release Phase
Struggle, while necessary for growth, insights, innovation, and team flow, often feels like a pressure cooker, continuing to build. At some point, you need the flick the release valve. What is your tendency? When immersed in a project you care about or deadlines looming, do you hustle more than flow? Does any movement feel like an effortful push from you? Likely, you are not familiar with the art and strategy of the Release Phase, which is the 2nd step in the flow cycle.
It's important to push yourself to the edge of frustration and then take your mind off the problem temporarily. This allows your subconscious mind to continue working on the problem in the background. The Release Phase is a period of relaxation and letting go. I don’t know about you, but I could sure use that from time to time! During this stage, your brain experiences a release of nitric oxide, which helps push stress hormones out of your system. As a result, positive, feel-good chemicals like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin start flowing into your system. This shift in neurochemistry prepares you for the next stage of the flow cycle.
So often in our culture of productivity, hustling for worth, and “busyness” as a badge of honor, this critical practice can be ignored. It’s also important to note the flow cycle is not a linear process, and you may move through the stages multiple times. So let go of that self-beat-up mode! It's a dynamic and iterative cycle that can be harnessed to achieve peak performance and optimal experiences. You’re right where you need to be.
If you or your team are in a perpetual cycle of struggle, unable to release and move through to breakthroughs, let’s talk!
Flow cycle: flow Phase
We moved through the Struggle Phase, the Release Phase and we’re now moving into the Flow Phase – YES, you’ve arrived!
In this stage, you experience a state of deep focus, effortless concentration, and heightened performance. You may lose track of time and become fully immersed in the task at hand. Flow is often characterized by a sense of selflessness, where your sense of self vanishes, and you become one with the activity. That nagging voice? It’s quiet for once! During the Flow Phase, it’s a highly enjoyable and rewarding state of being.
Image from Upward & Inward
For individuals and teams, when in the Flow Phase, creative solutions, new perspectives, and uncommon connections often bubble up to the surface with ease. To bring it back to our Layers of Connection (within, to, and through as seen to the right), a high-flow lifestyle or team culture plays a pivotal role in enabling Impact Leaders to seamlessly transition from a self-focused mindset to collaborative endeavors and, ultimately, to affecting broader systemic impact.
Are you ready to be more innovative, creative, and impactful? Start now with a guide by your side.
Flow cycle: recovery Phase
Now we’ve walked through the previous 3 phases of the 4-step Flow Cycle: Struggle Phase, Release Phase, and Flow Phase, you might be wondering, “Isn’t Flow the goal? Shouldn’t we stop there?” While it’s tempting to elongate the state and want to stay in flow, ironically this is counterproductive to cultivating a high-flow lifestyle. Flow is an immensely productive, valuable, and connected state. And yet, it burns hot and is also an energy-intensive state. This brings us to the necessary 4th and final step of the Flow Cycle: Recovery Phase.
After experiencing flow, it's important to give yourself time to rest and recover. This allows your brain and body to recharge and replenish the energy and resources expended during the flow state. Recovery is crucial for maintaining long-term performance and preventing burnout. It's important to prioritize adequate recovery to ensure you can continue accessing flow in the future.
Just as you would encourage a family member, friend or colleague to recuperate after an intense work period, you and your team deserve the same. During the Recovery Phase, the focus is on replenishing energy, restoring resources, and allowing the body and mind to recover from the demands of the flow state. It is essential for preventing burnout and maintaining long-term performance and well-being.
Flow cycle: bringing it together
So to recap, if you are an Impact Leader or an aspiring Impact Leader, cultivating a high-flow lifestyle could be key to sustainable access to creativity, focus, and increased overall performance – not to mention more joy in your life. To start, it’s important to understand that Flow is part of a 4-step cycle:
Struggle
Release
Flow
Recovery
Flow and more access to flow can be cultivated. If at this point, you’re thinking, “I’ll have what she’s having” and “Can we please serve that up to my team while we’re at it?”, then let’s talk!
Thrive on!
Ari DeGrote
Founder | Impact Leadership Catalyst