“The mystique of rock climbing is climbing; you get to the top of a rock glad it’s over but really wish it would go on forever. The justification of climbing is climbing, like the justification of poetry is writing; you don’t conquer anything except things in yourself…. The act of writing justifies poetry. Climbing is the same: recognizing that you are a flow. The purpose of the flow is to keep on flowing, not looking for a peak or utopia but staying in the flow. It is not a moving up but a continuous flowing; you move up to keep the flow going. There is no possible reason for climbing except the climbing itself; it is a self-communication.”
― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
A truism I’ve found that applies to the arts, athletics, or really any activity…
The only way to stay in the flow is to not be aware that you’re in the flow.
Flow is elusive and ephemeral. Once you notice or desire more of it, it’s gone.
One small example…
The next time you watch a basketball game and an announcer says “Heat check!” for a player who’s made several shots in a row and now attempts an even harder shot–one that’s not in the flow of the offense–see how often that shot goes in.
Or a personal example…
Every single time I’ve felt in flow when acting on stage–I’m thinking character thoughts, the lines pour effortlessly from my mouth, I’m deeply connected to my acting partner, the audience is especially attentive and responsive–as soon as I become aware and think, “Hey, this is really going well. Wait ’til this next line. This will really slay”…
The only way to stay in the flow is to not be aware that you’re in the flow.
P.S. – “Let it rain!”
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