I just recently came across this article on reddit:
http://www.newscientist....ure-focus.html?full=true
Book by the psychologist here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fl...id=1328576509&sr=8-1


It describes a mental state known as 'flow' in which our brain takes care of the task at hand pretty much automatically. In a way, it's like disabling the consciouss and mental "trying", and just doing by letting the subconscious (i believe) take over. You don't think about what you're doing; you just do. This seems to have a tie with several of the concepts discussed here on the nexus.

I'm sure the tuned minds of this community have experienced similar. I'm curious of your stories/experiences/examples if you care to share. I, for one, have had spurts of flow in video games, sports, and with conversation.
In addition, if any of you have tips and techniques to achieve this state of mind, not only momentarily, but consistently, please feel free to share.

Living in automatic seems like a good way to achieve "happy".

<3


Hmm, maybe this belongs in the looking glass section...

Great article. I think anyone who's hit that spot understands the sensation of "flow". Jenova Chen is a video game creator trying to incorporate this idea into his game designs.

http://www.jenovachen.co...owingames/flowtheory.htm


I would love to see us explore this idea and help all kinds of people become better at whatever they want faster, easier.

Very good and interesting article. Specially enjoying their description of how to achieve flow (requirements).

I personally experienced perfect flow very often when dancing on LSD at various festivals. I spent a lot of time practicing Liquid Dancing and am pretty good at it. I've had some of the most life-changing experiences dancing that way in a flow state. For me, it is the easiest and most direct way to achieve a deep meditative state. I just love being able to forget myself so easily and be submerged by the energies surrounding me.

Yes i have heard of this before. I go to school to be a writer and a lot of times i have a similar thing to "flow of consciousness". I prefer to it as a stream of consciousness where i just let my mind flow with what i am writing. A lot of times i find myself not even looking at what i am writing and just letting it stream to the keyboard. Good find!

hmmm

i wonder how difficult it would be to come up with a home-made tDCS

I have definitely experienced something like the flow before though I wouldn't call it like my mind being on automatic, that kind of just feels like doing something that is learned by rote (kind of like daydreaming whilst walking, driving ((dangerous!)) or any mundane activity).

For example, the last time this happened, I was playing guitar onstage at a gig and suddenly tapped into what can only be described as channeling the cosmos through my fingers one note at a time... I wasn't playing anything pre-planned or practiced either, just improvising a solo and I didn't really have any mental activity happening whilst it happened, it just was. It felt amazing and like I was being played by something greater, like I didn't even have control over what was happening, I was the instrument being played by something much bigger than me.

Contrast that with times I've been playing a set written part to a song and I might be thinking about tomorrows shopping list, etc, and you get the difference I am talking about.

Ever since I started taking psychedelics and even more so after using a sensory deprivation float tank (highly recommended, I think studies have found higher synchronization between right and left brain function after float tank therapy) I've found I seldom play on automatic pilot anymore and become consumed by the music 100% a lot more. Basically more present and in the here and now (as well as in day to day life too). I wish I could have more transcendent musical experiences like the one described above (being controlled by cosmic forces) but that isn't for me to decide, you can't force it but only hope that it finds you more often

Peace and happy traveling.

Good article by the way, thanks for the link

I believe that you are indeed channeling something. But that something isn't "music played on a guitar" unless you have learnt and practiced guitar playing in the past. You can't give a guitar to anyone and expect them to have the capacity to flow on that instrument without any practice.

Your brain needs an extensive database before it can use that information to "channel the cosmos" through a certain language (be it dance, music, art or anything else).

This is a good TED talk on the subject:

http://www.ted.com/talks...zentmihalyi_on_flow.html

A bit late to reply but I definitely agree that connecting with the flow and tapping into a greater cosmic energy doesn't come without practice and dedication to your craft (whatever that may be). Any of the greats of improvisational music, be they Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix or John Coltrane (and I am in no way implying that I am even in the same league, let alone the same universe as these guys as a musician) would not have ridden the cosmic wind without dedication and hard work that gets them to the point of being able to hop on. I think that kind of greatness only comes through innate natural talent AND hard work.