"Go With The Flow"

Ever lost yourself in a moment? Ever lost yourself in a moment and then realized that moment was actually an hour or an afternoon? Gone. Poof!

Friday. The end of a busy week and I am usually so tired that all I can think about is sleep. As a result I almost never make plans for after work. Sad but true. But this Friday was different - I had plans for a night out with a friend. Around 8:30pm, rejuvenated after a delicious nap, I began a great night. Before I knew it, it was 12:30am and my friend and I were saying our goodbyes. Our evening together was a great example of flow. Um, what? Flow?

"Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of activity."

So how did we spend our evening? What was so special about it? Well, it was something that neither of us had done before. We spent the evening at FUSE at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Cocktails and conversation in the VAG courtyard where we lost ourselves for two hours before we realized we hadn't even ventured inside to experience the art, performances, and multimedia experiences on display. It was a great example of free-flowing conversation in which time almost feels suspended. Another couple of hours gone as we wandered amongst the art and just stayed in the moment. Thought provoking, inspiring, and rejuvenating to my soul. That's what the night gave me.

So why is flow important? Many artists argue that it's a way to achieve some of their best work - when their mind is free and so is the creative process. As a creative individual I have many times experienced flow, sometimes with my writing and sometimes when I am making something, like a scrapbook or cards. Those are times when I am blissfully happy and afterwards I feel energized. It's meditative to me. In fact, it's easier for me to achieve flow through creativity than it is to meditate.  But the end result in terms of the rewards are the same, I feel.

How can you find flow or create flow in your life? How about trying a new experience to get your creative juices flowing? Make time in your life for it. It might be as simple as setting aside an hour to spend in whatever manner you choose. It could be a walk in the woods. The only rule is to focus on that one thing, whatever it may be. No multitasking, no checking email. Just flow.

Kristin

P.S. For more information about FUSE and the VAG, check out this link: http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/events_and_programs/fuse.html