HOW TO ENTER THE ‘FLOW STATE’ ANY TIME: FOUR SIMPLE STEPS

In our daily lives, simple tasks, such as: sweeping, washing, walking and mopping, can be practiced as a means to enter flow. Practicing with these ‘chores’ is a method by which the practitioner can come to realization that there are no mundane moments, only mundane states of mind. With practice, the same vibrant peace and sense of wellbeing can be embodied while sweeping, meditating or climbing a mountain equally.

Maybe you’re not a mountain climber, but you’ve probably had similar experiences. We’ve all had moments in which we experienced that same sense of heightened awareness. Athletes can experience this feeling in the heat of the game; they refer to that moment as being “in the zone.” This is called mindfulness.

Sports and physical activity are not the only way to get into that sacred state. Artists experience it when swept away in an inspired creative frenzy. Writers experience it when they get caught up in the story and the words seem to pour effortlessly onto the page.

Some of us experience it while listening to music, watching a beautiful sunset, working in the garden, holding a deep and meaningful conversation with a friend or when we have intimate relationships.

These are moments in which your mind becomes entirely absorbed in the activity. You forget yourself and your actions become effortless, fluid, with a sense of heightened awareness of the here and now. Time seems to slow down and you experience heightened perceptions.

Don’t take my word for it though. Try it out for yourself.
Try this.

Choose one thing that is a routine daily activity and make it into your mindfulness practice. Make it something simple. It may be brushing your teeth, doing the dishes or walking up or down the stairs.

STEP 1. Before you begin the activity, pause, then take three deep slow conscious breaths. Let the mind be fully engaged in the breath for that time and nothing else.

For those who want more than a natural state of flow, namely to enter into a spiritual/supernatural state of flow, the breath is a powerful anchor for the attention and can serve as an intimate metaphor for God's presence in the moment. With each breath, we are reminded that our moment-to-moment existence rests entirely in God's hands--that each moment of our life is a gift, not of our own making. We have no control over whether the next breath will come. Each breath also can remind us of the creation Breath that God breathed into dust..."In the beginning"... to give us life. This Breath of the Holy Spirit continues to breath in us and transform us. When we experience the breath, we have the opportunity to remember that God is present, that God's Spirit dwells in us, that we receive each moment as a gift from Him.

Through meditation we literally breathe the Holy Spirit, becoming filled with and united to the Life that is the Holy Spirit. Meditation is in truth the “praying in the Holy Ghost” enjoined by Saint Jude (1:20). “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also” (I Corinthians 14:15).
Moreover, for a deeper union with God and also for a deeper state of flow, we can use this verse in our mindful breathing exercise, with every new breath of the air: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit [Breath] of God dwelleth in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Through the practice of Breath Meditation this is revealed to us more and more.

In the same way, during our mindful breathing exercise, we can also use this verse: Jesus “breathed on [the apostles], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

STEP 2. Focus all of your attention in the present moment. Pretend for the moment that past and future do not exist. Take awareness to your sense perceptions. Be fully present in the now.

STEP 3. Slowly, with deliberate movements, go about your activity. Make it into a meditative practice but with an intensity of focus. And remember/practice, as often as possible, the presence of God, if you want to remain in a spiritual state of flow.

STEP 4. Remain alert and keep the mind fully attentive to what you are doing in that moment only and also attentive to the presence of God – not allowing it to slip off into unconscious mind chatter. Be completely absorbed in the activity as if you had just been born into this world. You will find that the activity ‘comes supernatural alive’ when you practice it with spiritual mindfulness. If your mind does slip off into ‘autopilot’ simply guide it back to being intensely engaged in what your doing and in the presence of God.

Practicing in this way immediately makes what was previously just a routine chore into a deeply satisfying and spiritual enjoyable moment.

Can you challenge yourself to stay fully ‘present’ for the entire activity?

Over time you can bring flow into more activities during your day. This is a great way to cultivate true happiness and peace in daily life without changing anything at all on the external level of your life. It’s a great way to come to the realization that there are no ordinary moments. Every moment of life is a sacred gift and through the art of spiritual-mindful living, through moving into divine flow, we can live every moment to it’s fullest.

The Divine flow of God's love can also move us toward the people God wants us to reach. We need to watch for the rising of this supernatural love, and be ready to follow wherever it flows.

- prelucrare după Melli Obrien