| Have you heard people talk about being "on the ball", | | | | you are doing |
| "in the zone" or "in the groove" while doing some | | | | · action and awareness merge into |
| activity? This often happens to athletes, musicians, | | | | single-mindedness |
| writers and other artists while they are performing, | | | | · high concentration on what you're doing to the point |
| although it is certainly not limited to these fields. | | | | that all else disappears from your mind |
| What they are talking about is being in a flow state, | | | | · a feeling of being in control |
| which is simply a mental state that allows a person to | | | | · loss of self-consciousness and a sense of growth |
| be fully involved in her task because of a heightened | | | | · altered sense of time, which often goes faster |
| state of focus, productivity and creativity, and | | | | Without flow, creativity is difficult to achieve. When |
| therefore achieves success. Flow is laser-sharp focus, | | | | you're depressed, worried, tired or distracted, your |
| single-minded concentration, and channeled energy. | | | | creativity is blocked, not flowing. But it's not always |
| When people are "in the zone", they immerse | | | | easy to get into a flow state, and indeed it's not |
| themselves so fully in what they are doing that they | | | | always voluntary. Creative thinking techniques can help |
| lose all track of time. They are positive, energized, | | | | you to get into this state. |
| happy and on a natural "high". At the same time, they | | | | Creative Thinking Techniques |
| are effortlessly pushing themselves beyond their limits | | | | · Brainstorming - this is often done with two or more |
| and strengthening their skills. Research has found that it | | | | people, also referred to as bouncing ideas off each |
| is when people's bodies or minds are pushed to | | | | other. The idea is to think of as many ideas as possible |
| capacity that success occurs most often. | | | | without censoring yourself or criticizing other people, |
| Musicians | | | | and build ideas by association. |
| Musicians can experience a flow state when playing | | | | · Random Element - when you're at a loss for a |
| their instrument, often in a live performance where | | | | solution, introducing a random element to the problem |
| they are pushing themselves to perform at their best in | | | | can help unblock ideas. Identify your dilemma and then |
| front of an audience. Being in sync with the other | | | | open a book and pick a random word; this method |
| musicians gives them a sharply-focused energy. | | | | compels an association between the new word and |
| Drummers achieve flow-what they call "getting into the | | | | the problem, allowing new solutions to flow. |
| groove"-when they drive the beat. | | | | · Role Playing - pretend that you're someone else, |
| Athletes | | | | either real or imagined, and think of new ideas. This |
| Many athletes that appear to perform miracles-a | | | | methods inspires new thoughts you might not normally |
| basketball player making a basket from halfway | | | | be comfortable thinking on your own. |
| across the court, for example-are in a state of flow, or | | | | · Mind Mapping - with this technique for creative |
| "in the zone". Players often describe these incredible | | | | thinking, you write down your issue in the middle of a |
| achievements as effortless, astounding others with | | | | piece of paper, then draw branches from it in many |
| their lack of specific knowledge about how they did it. | | | | directions. At the end of the branches you jot down |
| Spirituality | | | | any ideas triggered by the main idea, and then draw |
| Those who engage in spiritual practices like Buddhism, | | | | branches out from these associations to add |
| meditation or yoga are no strangers to the flow state. | | | | sub-associations. Using colors and images is helpful to |
| For these disciplines it is necessary to transcend | | | | stimulate the imagination. |
| normal awareness and overcome the duality of self | | | | · Free-Form Writing - this is a common technique for |
| and object, and in doing so lose the sense of | | | | opening up your mind to new ideas. Write for an |
| self-consciousness. In spiritual disciplines being in a flow | | | | allotted amount of time and don't stop to think until your |
| state is called "being at one". | | | | time is up. Do not censor your thoughts or worry about |
| Here are the basic traits of the flow experience: | | | | spelling or grammar. Simply write, allowing one idea to |
| · having a clear goal and knowing instantly how well | | | | open up the next. |