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The Neurology of Flow States
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The passage of time is subjective
Time is the product of physics, but how we perceive the passage of time is the product of the mind.
Your perception of time is subjective and malleable - it changes in response to input and context. It can be distorted by drugs, disease, sleep deprivation, or other altered states of consciousness.
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Time is manipulated by the things we do
When our minds are not stimulated, it can feel like time is moving very slowly.
When we are fully engaged, especially when we are busy with activities that keep us in a state of flow, our sense of time seems to speed up or even disappear. This "flow state" is where one is wholly absorbed in a mental or physical activity.
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Improvisation and flow
Improvised art forms, such as music, acting, or comedy is an example of a flow state. Improvisation is a highly complex form of creative behaviour. The ability to improvise requires cognitive flexibility, divergent thinking and discipline-specific skills.
During musical improvisation, there is an increase in the area of the brain involved in intentional self-expression and the pursuit of goal-oriented behaviours and a decrease in the brain areas involved in conscious self-monitoring, focused attention, and evaluation of planned actions.
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Achieving flow sates
We don't need to be able to improvise to achieve flow states. We can turn off the constant time-keeping moments when in artistic rapture or contemplation. Activities such as meditation, hypnosis, and daydreaming can also induce altered states of consciousness.
During improvisation, a performer's moment-to-moment decisions and actions may feel as if they happen outside of time and without intention. But, if performers become overly self-aware or self-conscious for too long, they can lose the flow state, and their performance will suffer.
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Creativity
While some people are born creative, it is possible to acquire this skill. The right conditions and the right training can make everyone creative, in their own unique way.
As we move from t...
Traits Of Creative People
In various studies, it is found that creative people tend to be more driven, impulsive, and self-confident.
They are less conventional and unorthodox in many aspects of life.
Openness to new ideas, curiosity and disagreeableness comes as common traits of creative individuals, as they are opposite of normal or popular, and like Steve Jobs, are a prickly personality.
Steps Of The Cognitive Process
Creativity can be learned as a cognitive skill using the following steps:
- Preparation: The basic rules, languages, and instructions in any skill.
- Incubation: When ideas wander in your brain's neural network, lost in the wild.
- Illumination: This is the Aha! Moment, the light bulb coming on.
- Verification: Where it is verified that the idea is real or just a random dream without legs.
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Why You Should Take Breaks
- “Movement breaks” are essential for your physical and emotional health. A 5-minute walkabout break every hour can improve your health and well-being.
- Breaks can prevent ...
When Not to Take a Break
When you are in a state of “flow” it is not good to take a break.
“Flow” is characterized by complete absorption in the task, seemingly effortless concentration, and pleasure in the task itself.
Good Breaks
A “good break” will give that goal-oriented Prefrontal Cortex of yours a good rest by switching brain activity to another area.
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Key Ideas
Challenge Unhelpful Thoughts
Listen to your thoughts — but don’t necessarily believe them.
They're suggestions, possibilities. But they’re not gospel. You can’t control what thoughts pop up, but y...
Identifying Unhelpful Thoughts
- Black and White Thinking: There are heaping piles of nuance to most things.
- Unrealistic Expectations: Cynicism is bad, but a little skepticism is essential.
- Selective Attention: If your brain is always looking for the negative, you’re gonna find it.
- Disqualifying the Positive: Sometimes we go into problem-solving mode and focus only on what is broken.
- Predicting the Future: “This will never work” or “They’re going to think I’m stupid.” You don’t know the future. So don’t act like it.
- “Should” thoughts: It’s usually just an insistence that the world bends to your will and is a great way to amplify frustration.
Do More Stuff
Doing little positive things is better for happiness than occasionally bagging an elephant:
- Enjoyable stuff
- Achievement stuff: Defeat your goals in single combat and feel like a conquering hero
- Meaningful stuff: Do volunteer work or just help someone
- Physical stuff: Exercise. Not only keeps you alive, but it’s like miracle grow for your brain
- Social stuff.