Ahhh, finally April is here, we welcome you with open arms! Time to revel in the true passing of stark winter, and the unfolding of green spring! Even though it happens this way every year, we stand in awe, voyeurs of nature’s tenacity, confidence and beauty!
Springtime inspires us to believe that, along with the earth, we too might change, release the past and give birth to new ideas and possibilities. Time to clean the house, change the wardrobe, take off the snow tires, and let the creative juices flow.
The state of Flow is described as complete absorption in an activity, such that you lose track of time, you think of nothing else, and you feel surprised when you come out. Usually, we find flow when we’re facing something with intensity; something that’s a challenge. It can be a creative endeavor, a physical challenge, a mental puzzle, or time spent with your BFF.
What also is inherent in the state of Flow is the sense of opposites at play, of duality, of Yin and Yang. Truth is often thought of as fact: It’s raining. I’m drinking tea. The phone is ringing. Often, tho, truth is not so black and white. In life, in relationships, in decision-making: there are usually two compelling sides to consider. This is the traditional Chinese concept of Yin and Yang. This describes the tension; the give and take between polar opposites, where one cannot exist without the other.
If you’re in a dark room, even the smallest point of light will draw your eye. If you’re in bright sunshine, the shadows stand out dramatically.
In a similar way, we each have this tug-of-war between our first nature and our second nature, on a continuum from Introversion to Extroversion. Introverts tend to prefer solitude, are slow to speak, good listeners and deep thinkers. Extroverts are more outgoing and social, crave stimulation and action, take more risks and love to talk. Very few of us are at the ends of the continuum; most are a blend with tendency toward one end or the other.
First Nature, and Second Nature
Our first nature, then, is the tendency toward introversion or extroversion. Many times, we have to spend time in our second nature, and that’s okay, as long as we build in restorative practices to bring us back into our first nature. For example, the introvert author will spend time alone in nature after a book opening, and the extrovert student will party away after an exam.
For me, I do tend more toward the introvert end of the scale, yet, I teach and lead all day long! When I’m teaching classes and working with clients, I realize I’m in a state of flow – it’s wonderful! However, I do need to consciously build in restorative practices afterward to balance that yang/yin tension: running, exercise, cooking, sleep (not always in that order!).
Take a moment to think about your first nature, and then think about times when you’re required to act more in your second. How do you feel when you’re pushed to your second nature? And what are your best practices to restore your inner equilibrium?
And think also about when you find that state of flow! Is it with your work? Is it something you do with your hands (and heart) such as gardening, crafting, building model train sets? Is it more arts oriented such as painting, writing, dancing, singing? Acknowledge one or two situations where you find flow, describe them to yourself. And then, think about how you can create more possibility for them, what barriers (time, space, attitude, responsibilities, etc) need to shift?
Would love to hear about your Flow experiences, and any ideas to given them more bandwidth!
Sandy
ps, here’s a brief guided meditation to help you move toward the state of Flow
Recent Comments