Flow state

The sport psychologist George Mumford has worked with Michael Jordan and other athletes in order to teach them how to better enter a flow state.

According to Medical News Today website:

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The term “flow state” describes a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity. They are directing all of their attention toward the task, and they do not experience many thoughts about themselves or their performance. Some people refer to this informally as being “in the zone.” The concept of flow comes from the field of positive psychology, which is the study of things that help humans thrive. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who was an influential part of the movement, coined the term. Flow has similarities with mindfulness, as both involve a focus on the present moment. However, people often use the term “flow” in reference to situations in which they are being productive, whereas a person can be in a state of mindfulness regardless of whether they are doing a task... Characteristics of a flow state Tasks that tend to encourage a state of flow often share similar characteristics. These tasks may be: challenging, but not so much that they are impossible rewarding, meaning that a person gets a sense of pleasure or purpose from doing it in-depth, involving an investment of some time or energy to make progress Some signs that a person is in a state of flow include: Focus: It is not easy to distract people in flow from their task. They may not be thinking about anything else. If a person or event interrupts someone in flow, they may feel annoyed. Lack of self-consciousness: Flow is associated with a decrease in “self-referential thinking,” which means that a person in this state is unlikely to be thinking about themselves, their performance, or how others might see them. Enjoyment: People may enjoy the task, encouraging them to immerse themselves in it. Persistence: Some evidence suggests that being in flow can offset the frustration of a difficult task, allowing people to keep going.

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Journal article

• A Review on the Role of the Neuroscience of Flow States in the Modern World, Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland). 2020 Sep; 10(9): 137. Published online 2020 Sep 9. doi: 10.3390/bs10090137

See also

• Peak performance
• Sport psychology
• Emotional stability

External links

• How to Achieve a State of Flow, By Kendra Cherry, MSEd, VeryWellMind.com
• What is a flow state and what are its benefits?
• Achieving a flow state: 7 ways to get in the zone
• 8 Traits of Flow According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• Superfluidity: The Psychology of Peak Performance
• The Flow Model: A Happiness Framework from Csikszentmihalyi, AI
• Best ways to achieve a flow state, AI

Videos:

• Flow state - video playlist, Video playlist