The State of Flow

Being present is something we all struggle with in our age of information abundance.

When we are present we can enter into a state of presence called flow. This is the ultimate state of creation.

The Flow State is characterized by intense concentration on the present moment, loss of self-consciousness, merging of action and awareness, and an altered sense of time. In this state, the dancer becomes the dance, the poet becomes the poem, and the singer becomes the song.

To reach this Flow State, we must understand what prevents us from achieving it. The word 'try' implies effort and strain, often accompanied by mental pressure and performance anxiety. We may worry about our performance, ruminate about past failures, and catastrophize potential outcomes. This mental strain can prevent us from starting a task, even when we have the capabilities to complete it.

"Those who stand on tiptoes do not stand firmly; those who rush ahead don't get very far; those who try to outshine others dim their own light."

Taoist sage Lao Tzu understood the human quirk of over-intellectualization and the resulting departure from the natural way. He observed that humans often swim against the current, ending up further from their goals. Lao Tzu's was famous for the concept of 'not trying' and how it relates to the science of intuition.

We often force situations only to discover that our efforts backfire. Attempting to improve the world frequently results in unintended consequences. Paradoxically, the more we strive for something, the more it seems to elude us.

For instance, we may wish to impress someone we are attracted to, but the harder we try, the less successful we become. Or we might rehearse a speech a hundred times, yet fail to deliver it effectively when the moment arrives. The issue is not our knowledge or abilities; it is our mind's attempt to control, analyze, and intellectualize that sabotages our efforts.

The famous work Tao Te Ching discusses themes such as trust, oppression, moderation, excess, humility, and pride—qualities that are essential for both leaders and individuals.

Lao Tzu's writings emphasize the value of trust over control, taking the lower position rather than dominating, and being flexible instead of rigid.

At the heart of the teaching is concept of the Tao, a mysterious and all-encompassing force also called the Way. According to Lao Tzu, the true nature of the Tao is beyond intellectual comprehension and sensory perception.

The Tao governs the universe, driving everything without rushing and always getting things done. Living in harmony with the Tao is the ultimate goal of a Taoist sage. The Tao teaches us that often problems resolve themselves.

But how does one achieve this?

Lao Tzu does not provide a practical guide to living in agreement with the Tao. Instead, his lyrical writings offer clues that point toward achieving a stillness of mind, being receptive instead of controlling, and practicing 'non-action' or 'effortless action.' This concept, known as Wu-Wei, is central to Taoism and can be translated as non-action, effortless action, or the paradoxical action of non-action.

Wu-Wei embodies different forms of non-action. Lao Tzu's writings advocate softness over hardness, allowing over forcing, and flowing along over striving. He encourages us to stop trying so hard, to stop pushing beyond nature's limits, and to align ourselves with the Tao by going along with it instead of fighting it. Practicing Wu-Wei aligns us with the Tao, facilitating a state of non-intervention. Lao Tzu particularly applies this concept to rulers, suggesting that they should trust and allow processes to unfold naturally without unnecessary intervention. Overly controlling leaders or managers, despite their good intentions, often disrupt the natural flow and worsen situations. Great leaders, according to Lao Tzu, lead from a place of non-action, acting only when necessary and trusting in the process and in their team.

Wu-Wei can also be the idea of effortless action, often described as being 'in the zone,' where one merges seamlessly with the act. Wu-Wei is the state of flow. Wu-Wei is about letting go and going along with the flow of nature, allowing the universe to do its job.

Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience describes the mind as often stuck in a state of 'psychic entropy,' where the mind is in chaos, attention is scattered, and we are not present.

In this state, not much gets done, and what does get done goes less smoothly. The mind's creations—worries, ruminations, concepts, and ideas—disrupt the natural flow, preventing effortless action.

Lao Tzu wrote, "Mastery of the world is achieved by letting things take their natural course." Letting go of control is challenging for a controlling mind, but it requires trust. In trust, there is no trying; you either trust, or you don't.

By practicing non-action and effortless action, we align ourselves with the Tao, allowing us to achieve our goals more naturally and harmoniously. This intuitive approach to life encourages us to stop striving and start flowing, trusting in the universe to guide us effortlessly.