This piece sings from beginning to end. I look forward to more collaborations. My favorite quote: “The Self is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere”
Great post. Love the concept of flow whenever possible. Life, whether it be to family, occupation, or circumstance, however, doesn’t always encourage flow.
What advice would you give to readers to prepare for and response to forces that prevent flow?
I appreciate the analogy but what if the blockage can’t be removed from the river? The water will find a way to flow and ideally people can too. When flow states aren’t possible due to responsibility/circumstance, do you still suggest flow?
I believe there are 2 perspectives on this dilemma, Kyle.
1. There are blockages
The blockages that make our lives difficult are mental (e.g., responsibility, circumstances, expectations, etc.). And the interesting thing is that thoughts and beliefs create mental blockages. That means you can change or let go of these thoughts and beliefs.
Think about your blockage.
Is this responsibility/circumstance real? Or is it just your perception of it?
If this is a real responsibility/circumstance that you can't remove, then you can still always adapt to it. And you can always learn, grow, and evolve with it.
Let's say a person is building a business and somebody in their family gets so sick that they must take care of them. This is a real responsibility and circumstance. The person can usually no longer run their business in the same way. But they can adapt. For example:
- They can find new ways to approach their work that accommodate their family's needs (e.g., better structures, switching to long-term plans, working fewer hours, more outsourcing, etc.)
- They can let go of the expectations they had for their business and embrace this new phase as part of their journey
- They can focus on growing other areas/one area of their business (e.g., networking, marketing, etc.).
- They can focus on growing in other areas of their life while their business takes a backseat
- They can accept that this is a temporary change and find peace in the present moment
- They can learn about emotional intelligence and patience during this period
- They can find a business partner to help carry the load during this time
- They can pause the business and wait until they have more time
- They can grow their business in a slower way
- Etc.
All of these options involve adaptation. It may not be the path this person initially planned, but it is a path nonetheless.
2. There are no blockages
The interesting question is: do blockages exist at all?
If it's your perspective that it's a "blockage," is it a blockage at all?
If you can learn from the blockage, is it a blockage at all?
If you can change the blockage, is it a blockage at all?
All blockages are opportunities for adaptation, growth, and learning. And they're never permanent, because you always have the power to change how you perceive and interact with them.
Wouldn't all of this make the whole idea of a blockage irrelevant?
---
Now, let's talk about the flow state.
The flow state is always possible if you cultivate your mind.
A flow state doesn't come from or rely on external circumstances. It comes from within. It's a specific state of mind. A state of mind in which you're in complete focus and concentration, but also experiencing effortlessness, inner alignment, and harmony.
And in this state of mind, there are no blockages.
Because blockages come from our own thoughts and beliefs. In the flow state, those thoughts and beliefs don't hold us back. They can't because we're in a state of surrender and acceptance. And we're also in a state of complete focus and concentration. So, thoughts or emotions can't distract us.
In such a state, there's no place where blockages can reside. They simply can't exist in such a state because they don't have the foundation for it.
How does one train flow?
The flow state comes from a calm and focused mind. By cultivating a mind that's free from expectations, desires, and resistance to emotions, you create the foundation for flow.
So, basically, you can do anything that helps you cultivate your mind and achieve a state of stillness.
For me, it's things like meditation, movement, breathwork, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, spending time in silence, and spending time observing nature (rivers, trees swaying with the wind, clouds drifting across the sky, etc.).
For you, it could be something else. It could be writing or painting, dancing or singing, hiking or cycling. Find what allows you to let go of your thoughts and be fully present in the moment. And make it a regular practice.
Love the elaboration and we agree on so much of that.
My perspective is that legit competency in most endeavors requires work/effort over time. Once you reach a point of relative competence, you can flow when operating on the boundaries of your capabilities. When under or over, however, other skills encourage either returning to flow or enjoyment in other ways (adapting, embracing, etc).
You hop on the mats with me in jiu jitsu, I promise you that you won’t be flowing. I enter your established realm elsewhere and it’ll be challenging for me.
Stress and adversity are needed for change/growth.
Conceptually, you and I completely agree. Acceptance leads to fulfillment. Adversity and hardship are ultimately perspectives that can be reframed.
When looking to improve, to protect, to provide, to accomplish, to thrive, a blend of skills beyond flow is necessary in my opinion so you can effectively respond internally and externally to circumstances that may force you in different directions.
Thanks again brother. Love convos like this. Looking forward to more in the future
Yes, we agree on many things! But I always find it very interesting when I come across different opinions and perspectives. It's a great way to expand my understanding and challenge my beliefs :)
In reference to your jiu-jitsu example, I see flow as more of a mental state that drives the effortlessness of your actions. While this might sound similar to your point, let me clarify: mastering a skill to perfection certainly enhances flow, but I believe it’s not the only path to achieving a flow state.
I may not match your jiu-jitsu skills physically. But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay calm, centered, and grounded in a state of inner harmony—ready to move and flow with ease.
Flow, in this sense, isn’t about outperforming your technique and skill.
It’s about moving effortlessly, even when faced with your skill and precision.
It’s about adapting to the rhythm of our sparring, staying composed, and making conscious decisions without being overwhelmed by emotions or external pressures.
And it's about accepting my limitations, recognizing that I may not be as skilled, and finding freedom in letting go of that need for perfection. Which allows me to fully immerse myself in the learning process, enabling me to learn from you more quickly and effectively.
I believe that flow is a mindset—a way of "thinking" and approaching any task or activity. It's not just about physical abilities. But also about our mental state. And how we perceive and handle both mental and physical challenges.
But, of course, the ultimate goal is to master both inner flow and outer flow, achieving complete harmony between mind and body. Because this balance allows us to unlock our full potential and experience a state of effortless action, both within ourselves and in the world around us.
I also want to thank you for your thought-provoking questions and answers! :)
Man… thank you again too. Beautiful elaboration that I couldn’t agree more with! Some excellent conceptual wisdom in both your post with wisdom and our continued convo here.
Have a great one brother and hope to share perspectives again on another topic sometime soon 👊🏻
The harder you try=think to create flow the less likely it is to occur. WU WEI non action, non ego, immersion in the moment. I found/find flow while working on 'crafts' no thoughts no trying just doing
Practice, repetition, perseverance in anything, at some point you lose the need to think/monitor/doubt, that is you lose yourself, then you have flow. Case in point changing brakes on my car - first time one is filled with questions and worries 20 times after doing the task you find it mindless where you only need to feel and do. We all experience flow in proportions - like riding a bike or driving or even walking or breathing!
Now I’m convinced you’re going to love reading the Tao of Psychology :) Also kind of fun synchronicity: for about the last week I’ve been searching for a copy of the I Ching (specifically the Wilhelm version with the introduction from Jung), and although I’ve yet to discover her, in my searching I’ve stumbled across two seemingly random Jungian texts: There Are No Accidents by Robert Hopcke, and then The Secrets of the Golden Flower (which I discovered the same day you published this post!) ✨
Nice - Let's not forget Schopenhauer as he preceded and influenced Jung on the importance of Eastern philosophies for psychology. My favorite is Burton Watsons Basic Writings of Chuang tzu. I read it until it fell apart.
How interesting it is to see how many people influence one another. In the end, we complete each other and are all part of a big puzzle of consciousness :)
As you may, or indeed may not, know I am a follower of Vedanta, which as my swami said is the philosophical branch of Hinduism. We are in progress discussing Non Dualism, the Vedic view that we are all part of the total in that we all have a self, which is a individual Atman, part of the Brahma, the totality divine. Non Duality is a very powerful concept in that it explains why one can truly love the other. This is of course due to everything and everyone has its ‘Atman’, the part of Brahman. In every person there is bits shared by me and everyone/thing else. This is why war, hate, is so utterly wrong. When we hurt the other, we hurt also ourselves. Eastern religion and philosophy is so very humane, and Jung is also very accurate in his observations on the self and the psyche. Very interesting post.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Rowan. Both have had a fairly profound influence on my life, and it was a joy to read this well-articulated synthesis of how they interact and compliment each other.
I always find it fascinating to see how philosophy and psychology connect.
This piece sings from beginning to end. I look forward to more collaborations. My favorite quote: “The Self is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere”
– C.G. Jung
Great post. Love the concept of flow whenever possible. Life, whether it be to family, occupation, or circumstance, however, doesn’t always encourage flow.
What advice would you give to readers to prepare for and response to forces that prevent flow?
What would you do if you saw something blocking the flow of water in a river?
I appreciate the analogy but what if the blockage can’t be removed from the river? The water will find a way to flow and ideally people can too. When flow states aren’t possible due to responsibility/circumstance, do you still suggest flow?
How does one train flow in the first place?
I believe there are 2 perspectives on this dilemma, Kyle.
1. There are blockages
The blockages that make our lives difficult are mental (e.g., responsibility, circumstances, expectations, etc.). And the interesting thing is that thoughts and beliefs create mental blockages. That means you can change or let go of these thoughts and beliefs.
Think about your blockage.
Is this responsibility/circumstance real? Or is it just your perception of it?
If this is a real responsibility/circumstance that you can't remove, then you can still always adapt to it. And you can always learn, grow, and evolve with it.
Let's say a person is building a business and somebody in their family gets so sick that they must take care of them. This is a real responsibility and circumstance. The person can usually no longer run their business in the same way. But they can adapt. For example:
- They can find new ways to approach their work that accommodate their family's needs (e.g., better structures, switching to long-term plans, working fewer hours, more outsourcing, etc.)
- They can let go of the expectations they had for their business and embrace this new phase as part of their journey
- They can focus on growing other areas/one area of their business (e.g., networking, marketing, etc.).
- They can focus on growing in other areas of their life while their business takes a backseat
- They can accept that this is a temporary change and find peace in the present moment
- They can learn about emotional intelligence and patience during this period
- They can find a business partner to help carry the load during this time
- They can pause the business and wait until they have more time
- They can grow their business in a slower way
- Etc.
All of these options involve adaptation. It may not be the path this person initially planned, but it is a path nonetheless.
2. There are no blockages
The interesting question is: do blockages exist at all?
If it's your perspective that it's a "blockage," is it a blockage at all?
If you can learn from the blockage, is it a blockage at all?
If you can change the blockage, is it a blockage at all?
All blockages are opportunities for adaptation, growth, and learning. And they're never permanent, because you always have the power to change how you perceive and interact with them.
Wouldn't all of this make the whole idea of a blockage irrelevant?
---
Now, let's talk about the flow state.
The flow state is always possible if you cultivate your mind.
A flow state doesn't come from or rely on external circumstances. It comes from within. It's a specific state of mind. A state of mind in which you're in complete focus and concentration, but also experiencing effortlessness, inner alignment, and harmony.
And in this state of mind, there are no blockages.
Because blockages come from our own thoughts and beliefs. In the flow state, those thoughts and beliefs don't hold us back. They can't because we're in a state of surrender and acceptance. And we're also in a state of complete focus and concentration. So, thoughts or emotions can't distract us.
In such a state, there's no place where blockages can reside. They simply can't exist in such a state because they don't have the foundation for it.
How does one train flow?
The flow state comes from a calm and focused mind. By cultivating a mind that's free from expectations, desires, and resistance to emotions, you create the foundation for flow.
So, basically, you can do anything that helps you cultivate your mind and achieve a state of stillness.
For me, it's things like meditation, movement, breathwork, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, spending time in silence, and spending time observing nature (rivers, trees swaying with the wind, clouds drifting across the sky, etc.).
For you, it could be something else. It could be writing or painting, dancing or singing, hiking or cycling. Find what allows you to let go of your thoughts and be fully present in the moment. And make it a regular practice.
I hope that helps!
Love the elaboration and we agree on so much of that.
My perspective is that legit competency in most endeavors requires work/effort over time. Once you reach a point of relative competence, you can flow when operating on the boundaries of your capabilities. When under or over, however, other skills encourage either returning to flow or enjoyment in other ways (adapting, embracing, etc).
You hop on the mats with me in jiu jitsu, I promise you that you won’t be flowing. I enter your established realm elsewhere and it’ll be challenging for me.
Stress and adversity are needed for change/growth.
Conceptually, you and I completely agree. Acceptance leads to fulfillment. Adversity and hardship are ultimately perspectives that can be reframed.
When looking to improve, to protect, to provide, to accomplish, to thrive, a blend of skills beyond flow is necessary in my opinion so you can effectively respond internally and externally to circumstances that may force you in different directions.
Thanks again brother. Love convos like this. Looking forward to more in the future
Yes, we agree on many things! But I always find it very interesting when I come across different opinions and perspectives. It's a great way to expand my understanding and challenge my beliefs :)
In reference to your jiu-jitsu example, I see flow as more of a mental state that drives the effortlessness of your actions. While this might sound similar to your point, let me clarify: mastering a skill to perfection certainly enhances flow, but I believe it’s not the only path to achieving a flow state.
I may not match your jiu-jitsu skills physically. But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay calm, centered, and grounded in a state of inner harmony—ready to move and flow with ease.
Flow, in this sense, isn’t about outperforming your technique and skill.
It’s about moving effortlessly, even when faced with your skill and precision.
It’s about adapting to the rhythm of our sparring, staying composed, and making conscious decisions without being overwhelmed by emotions or external pressures.
And it's about accepting my limitations, recognizing that I may not be as skilled, and finding freedom in letting go of that need for perfection. Which allows me to fully immerse myself in the learning process, enabling me to learn from you more quickly and effectively.
I believe that flow is a mindset—a way of "thinking" and approaching any task or activity. It's not just about physical abilities. But also about our mental state. And how we perceive and handle both mental and physical challenges.
But, of course, the ultimate goal is to master both inner flow and outer flow, achieving complete harmony between mind and body. Because this balance allows us to unlock our full potential and experience a state of effortless action, both within ourselves and in the world around us.
I also want to thank you for your thought-provoking questions and answers! :)
Man… thank you again too. Beautiful elaboration that I couldn’t agree more with! Some excellent conceptual wisdom in both your post with wisdom and our continued convo here.
Have a great one brother and hope to share perspectives again on another topic sometime soon 👊🏻
The harder you try=think to create flow the less likely it is to occur. WU WEI non action, non ego, immersion in the moment. I found/find flow while working on 'crafts' no thoughts no trying just doing
Completely agree. You need to be competent in a skill in order to effectively flow in it though correct? How does one develop a skill?
Practice, repetition, perseverance in anything, at some point you lose the need to think/monitor/doubt, that is you lose yourself, then you have flow. Case in point changing brakes on my car - first time one is filled with questions and worries 20 times after doing the task you find it mindless where you only need to feel and do. We all experience flow in proportions - like riding a bike or driving or even walking or breathing!
Love it
This is wonderful. Count me in!
🎉🎉🎉
Now I’m convinced you’re going to love reading the Tao of Psychology :) Also kind of fun synchronicity: for about the last week I’ve been searching for a copy of the I Ching (specifically the Wilhelm version with the introduction from Jung), and although I’ve yet to discover her, in my searching I’ve stumbled across two seemingly random Jungian texts: There Are No Accidents by Robert Hopcke, and then The Secrets of the Golden Flower (which I discovered the same day you published this post!) ✨
Tao of Psychology sounds very intriguing!
And regarding synchronicity, I found that it all falls into place when we're simply flowing in any direction :)
Nice - Let's not forget Schopenhauer as he preceded and influenced Jung on the importance of Eastern philosophies for psychology. My favorite is Burton Watsons Basic Writings of Chuang tzu. I read it until it fell apart.
How interesting it is to see how many people influence one another. In the end, we complete each other and are all part of a big puzzle of consciousness :)
As you may, or indeed may not, know I am a follower of Vedanta, which as my swami said is the philosophical branch of Hinduism. We are in progress discussing Non Dualism, the Vedic view that we are all part of the total in that we all have a self, which is a individual Atman, part of the Brahma, the totality divine. Non Duality is a very powerful concept in that it explains why one can truly love the other. This is of course due to everything and everyone has its ‘Atman’, the part of Brahman. In every person there is bits shared by me and everyone/thing else. This is why war, hate, is so utterly wrong. When we hurt the other, we hurt also ourselves. Eastern religion and philosophy is so very humane, and Jung is also very accurate in his observations on the self and the psyche. Very interesting post.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Rowan. Both have had a fairly profound influence on my life, and it was a joy to read this well-articulated synthesis of how they interact and compliment each other.