Get Into the Flow

Find your flow in your career

Many of us want to make meaningful use of our talents and abilities. We question what we do—or would like to do—with our lives, and we engage in a personal quest for meaning and professional fulfilment.

When listening to people who seem fulfilled and successful, we often realise that, consciously or not, they have found their flow zone.

In positive psychology, flow—also referred to as “being in the zone”—describes the mental state of a person who is fully immersed in an activity. In this state, concentration becomes intense, performance reaches a high level, and the activity itself generates a deep sense of satisfaction.

For athletes, it can feel almost mysterious: not exactly ecstasy, but a form of mental absorption during which pain, effort, or even time itself seem to disappear.

Interestingly, in rap music, flow refers to the ability of a rapper to stay perfectly in rhythm.

The flow zone is a fascinating place to be, yet it seems to take different forms: rhythm, trance, performance, satisfaction, alignment…

What all flow experiences have in common is that they feel natural.

When we perform an activity that truly belongs to our flow zone, it often feels surprisingly easy—almost childishly simple. Because we are naturally proficient at it, we sometimes forget that this feeling of ease is not universal. It is linked to who we are: our abilities, aspirations, personality, and psychological needs.

Another common denominator of flow is action.

We enter the flow zone by doing something—something meaningful and aligned with who we are.

Of course, taking action helps us discover our flow zone. But randomly multiplying experiences and activities without reflection can quickly become exhausting or confusing. Without a certain level of self-awareness and mindfulness, we may occasionally experience flow while still missing the deeper meaning behind it.

Unless you are an Olympic athlete, a successful music artist, or a professional who comes home every evening fulfilled after another great day at work, your path toward the flow zone often starts with two important milestones:

• Develop greater self-awareness and identify the activities that align with your personality, values, aspirations, abilities, and psychological needs.
• Strengthen your sense of presence by overcoming distracting thoughts, fears, and limiting beliefs.

From there, it becomes possible to consciously design a professional and personal life that brings you closer to your own flow zone.