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On the other hand, how many times have you been in a situation where the time crawls by, that you swear that time is not only creeping by, but that it's feels like it is going backward. School can sometimes bring this out. Instead of eight hours, it seems like twelve.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a feeling of excitement every day? To feel that sense of joy in every part of your life, whether you were at school or at home or at play? Maybe this sounds impossible to you or maybe it sounds overly hopeful, but you can find the same thrill in every day living that you find in your favorite sports and activities.
You've probably heard the saying "in the zone". It describes the way an athlete is completely involved and caught up in their sporting event. They're able to shut out the distractions, the other team, the crowds, whatever stands in their way in order to win.
In sport psychology literature, this is called "flow". Flow is a state of mind that is natural and leads to absolute involvement in the process of one's life experiences. It's a feeling of effortless control, as if one were on "auto-pilot". There's a loss of sense of time, temporary removal of emotional hurdles, alertness, a sense of having energy and being productive. When you are involved in what you're doing, when you're tuned in and occupied by your own life, it allows flow.
How does this work? Flow occurs partly because the changed state of mind during this process eliminates the feeling of boredom or anxiety you would normally feel. In other words, when you are feeling a rush of excitement, it's hard to feel bored or worried. You are living in the moment.
It's important to understand sense of involvement because it is the foundation for finding confidence in your life. If you cannot achieve a sense of involvement in your life; if you cannot find happiness, then I assure you that you won't find the confidence that you need.
Okay, so how do YOU achieve FLOW in your life? Think about it first. And, then jump to PART 2 of the Finding Your Zone series.
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