How to Find Your Flow
In Positive Psychology, being in a state of flow means that the person performing an activity is fully immersed and experiencing a balanced blend of engagement, enjoyment and energized focus. Finding ourselves in a flow state when performing certain activities such as painting, writing, designing, cooking - whatever we consistently lose our ourselves in, is usually a good indicator that we are on the right path for our life's purpose. One of the most-asked questions from clients, friends and family is "how do I know what path I'm supposed to be on?" There are no right, same or standard answers for any two people, but the basic foundation seems to be the same for everyone.
The key to finding our path usually lies at the intersection of the things we're naturally drawn to and enjoy. This is a starter kit to help you discover your innate passions and interests.
1) What would you do if you were more bold and confident?
2) What would you do if you knew you would succeed?
3) What did you love to do when you were younger?
4) What do you wish you did more of now?
5) What would you do if money was not a factor?
Don't censor yourself, be open to whatever comes up, no matter how silly or "off" it may seem at first. When I did this exercise myself, I kept coming back to an image of an amethyst grape cluster I bought in 4th grade on a school field trip to a mineral and gem store. I wrote about it a few years ago not understanding the meaning, and now I have a crystal shop! Crystals have always been an innate love and fascination for me, but I had to rediscover this through the self-inquiry process.
If you would like to go a step further, you can take the University of Pennsylvania's VIA survey of character strengths test here (find the VIA test, then click Take Test on the right. There is a shorter 24-question test and the full-length 224-question test). This is a free test, but I believe the responses are recorded and collected for data research {disclaimer: I studied Positive Psychology at UPenn}. This test will calculate your Top 5 Character Strengths, which helps provide useful insight into your core values and can shed more light on discovering your life's purpose.
24 Character Strengths - Do you know your Top 5?
Some questions regarding your Top 5 Strengths:
1) How can you use your top strengths in new and different ways?
2) How can you use your top strengths to help others and contribute to your community?
3) How can you use your strengths to minimize your weaknesses?
Taking some time to reflect and discover who we are at our core often leads to clarity in every area of our life and many times, this process organically clears the clutter so that our path becomes more illuminated before us.
Do you know your Top 5 Character Strengths? If so, what are they?
(Mine are love of learning, curiosity, spirituality, social intelligence and perspective).
Leave a comment
Also in Self-Care Sunday Blog Posts
New Year Sweetness
- Gather your supplies. You'll need a large bowl filled halfway with water and 4-12 de-stemmed blooms of your favorite flower(s). Notes: Roses are said to have the highest vibration of any flower.
- Find a comfortable seat on the ground on a yoga mat or cushion - either inside or outside. You may want to place a rolled blanket underneath your sits bones to help support you and keep your pelvic bowl and spine in alignment. Arrange your supplies as desired around your space with the bowl of water directly in front of you.
The Energetics of Chasing
Whether it’s love, good health, a solid relationship, serenity, freedom, a title, respect, or a certain number in the bank or on the scale - anything you chase will always be outside of you.
Apart from you.
A Perpetual Separation.
The energy of chasing by nature keeps you in pursuit and the desired "thing" running away from you. This creates more resistance & frustration and actually widens the gap between you and what you want.
Andrea Pacini
Author