Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who has been praised for his co-founding positive psychology, was among the first people to identify and study the practice and art of flow. It is represented by the best level of performance that is accessible to people, with work and creativity ‘flowing out’ of them without much effort. The capacity to reach flow can vary from one individual to the next, with a negative correlation occurring between flow and neuroticism and a positive one between the phenomenon and conscientiousness. Because the capacity to flow ranges in individuals, their experiences with it are also different.
Personally, I experienced flow when engaging in drawing regularly. The immersion of my mind and body into the act of painting small strokes increased my concentration on the present moment, in which nothing besides me and the painting mattered. When reflecting on my own experience with flow, the true melting of action and consciousness comes to mind, with the brain being entirely concentrated on one task. This was an authentic flow experience because time passed differently, with the immersive experience making it go slower.
What I have undergone during immersive painting practice allowed me to consider the importance of making my work a source of happiness. The initial step that should be taken in this direction includes choosing the jobs that I love doing. Without a positive emotional connection between myself and the job, flow is unlikely to occur. Next, it is necessary to find the best time for productivity, which is often the time before noon, and clear away any distractions. Then, it is crucial to focus on the task for as long as required and enjoy doing it.