Finding Flow

Taylor Conroy found flow.    When I first saw his video, I was so inspired by him that I had to learn more.  When I read his entry "Saddened to the core of my bones" from his blog Destroy Normal, (September 21, 2013)  it both resonated for me and made me think of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's  flow chart.

from:http://slashleyluke.wordpress.com/tag/illinx/

(for a different perspective)

When we don't feel challenged apathy and boredom can set in, two close friends with depression.  If we aren't inspired, motivated, excited, what do we do with our time and thoughts?  When people ask me why I work so much, why I don't take a holiday just for fun, my pat answer is typically 'idle hands are a devil's workshop'. I can get into trouble. Fast.  It's not that I don't like trouble, but it can be the road to pain if you stay on it for too long.  (cue in Sarah McLachlan)  Okay, so I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, so here's a nice counterbalance, and I challenge you not to do some chair dancing or singing. But truth be told, I really like keeping busy.  I really like working and making goals for myself.  I feel best when my goals involve empowering others, whether that's coaching Special Olympics, teaching after working a full eight hour day, or doing this masters program so I can give back more.  It keeps me in a zone,  in 'flow', though I've never thought of it this way.  I understand why Taylor feels bummed when he comes home after travelling to areas where people have so little, leading to a sense of powerlessness in the grand scheme of things.  But he takes those feelings and turns them inside out, to one of empowerment, both for himself and others.  Watching Csikszentmilhalyi's video has helped me understand why I am the way I am a little better. And I learned about Taylor Conroy on the way.  All in all, not a bad way to spend a few hours.