Now that we have all found our "signature strengths" the obvious next step is to find out what activities bring us joy. In full disclosure, this one is tough for me. There are things that I like to do, but none of them are cheap or free, and I am not sure that they are exactly activities that I can get "lost" in.
Let me back up a little, most positive psychologists believe in a process called flow. Flow is a lot like being in the zone. It is when you are so engaged in or focused on an activity that you forget about anything else and become fully immersed in the activity or the experience. It is most common in sports and athletics, but other have reported flow from much simpler things like playing Candy Crush on their phones or painting.
Researchers believe that achieving the flow state leads to greater happiness, even when not actively engaged in the flow activity. It is all about allowing yourself to be absorbed by your own unique skill set and ultimately, transcending the hardships of the human experience.
Have you had the flow experience? Do you have something you enjoy enough to attempt the flow experience? If you are interested in attempting this adventure, I have a few tips to help you on your journey.
1. Make sure the activity you choose has an element of challenge. The flow state is easier to achieve if you feel like your are overcoming.
2. Similarly, your activity should push your skill level, in fact it should push you to grow and improve.
3. It helps to have a specific goal and plan in mind. For example, if you have chosen running as your flow activity, it would help to have a plan to run maybe 3 times a week for 30 minutes, or whatever goal pushes you to your limits.
4. Perhaps, most importantly, you need to be passionate about your activity. If you hate running, do not run. You will experience no joy if you are feeling tortured. Instead you might want to try something like painting or knitting.
So, how will you flow? Feel free to comment below and share your ideas! Be happy my friends!
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