Thread by @DrJohnVervaeke

CEOs, athletes, and artists chase it.
Ancient shamans mastered it.

It’s an experience where:
• Time dissolves
• Your self-consciousness melts away
• You're completely absorbed in what you're doing — performing at your absolute best

Here’s how you invite the ~Flow State~:

(1/8) Firstly — we must acknowledge that sustaining focus and engagement is challenging.
Your mind is prone to distraction — your energy wanes — and motivation falters.

But there's good news:
Flow is accessible to anyone when the following 5 steps align…

(2/8) Step 1: The challenge slightly exceeds your current skill level

If a task is too easy — you’ll get bored.
Too hard — and you’ll feel overwhelmed.

The right challenge keeps you engaged and focused.

Select a task that’s just slightly beyond your current skill level.
It should push you (but not stress you out).

(3/8) Step 2: You have clear goals and immediate feedback

Before starting — define exactly what you want to achieve.

Knowing exactly what you’re working toward (and receiving immediate feedback on your progress) allows you to adjust actions and stay immersed.

This condition allows for continuous refinement.
It enhances the immediacy and directness of experience.

Each action becomes an insight into the next — and there’s no room for ambiguity.

(4/8) Step 3: Complete Focus on the Task

Flow requires full attention and an ability to block out distractions.

This intense concentration reduces self-referential thinking (and allows the boundary between the self and the task to blur).

You’re not thinking about doing — you are simply doing​.
In such moments — actions become effortless.

(5/8) Step 4: There are real consequences for failure

When stakes are high — you become more deeply engaged — aligning your actions and decisions with survival-level intensity.

This condition taps into your basic survival mechanisms (where you’re naturally more focused and present when facing genuine consequences).

(6/8) Step 5: You're fully immersed in the activity

This occurs when the task demands all of your cognitive resources — reducing self-consciousness in favor of task-awareness.

Self-conscious thought about performance or external factors fades away (and you are “in the zone”) experiencing life through participatory knowing.

Being part of the task — rather than separate from it​​.

(7/8) To sum up — flow occurs when these specific conditions align:

• The challenge slightly exceeds your current skill level
• You have clear goals and immediate feedback
• The task requires your complete attention
• There are real consequences for failure
• You're fully immersed in the activity

Now you may ask yourself “Why should I bother doing all of this?”.

The importance of flow goes far beyond just feeling good or performing well…

(8/8) The more often people experience flow states:

• They're more likely to find their life meaningful
• They experience deeper satisfaction and engagement
• They learn and develop skills faster
• They're more creative and innovative

Remember: When you're in flow — you're not just doing an activity — you're participating in it fully.

Becoming one with it.

This is why flow experiences feel so meaningful.
They silence that nattering inner voice of self-doubt and connect you directly to the present moment.
To your work.
To the world around you.

Thank you for reading. If you think it would help someone — share the first post!

P.S.: If you want to know more about the flow state — and how it relates to the Meaning Crisis (and thus yourself) — subscribe to the Lectern Letters (and get the first 3 chapters of my new book for free): vervaeke.kit.com/lecternnewslet…