While there is no magic formula for achieving happiness or living in alignment with one's purpose, reaching a state of flow is a crucial ingredient for achieving an optimal experience, the authors of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life shared with CNBC Make It.
According to Hector García and Francesc Miralles, experiencing a state of flow enables individuals to be more present, enhance their focus, and momentarily set aside their concerns. They add that the happiest individuals are not necessarily the highest achievers but rather those who spend more time immersed in a state of flow.
What is the State of "Flow?"
The "flow" concept was originally introduced in 1990 by a psychologist named Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describing one's mental state as being completely immersed and engaged in an activity characterized by:
- Effortless attention
- Concentration and control
- Unselfconsciousness
- Increased happiness or satisfaction
- Increased creativity
It's a sensation often linked with performers and athletes. Still, business leaders are increasingly recognizing its potential in the workplace. They assist employees in discovering their flow, which can profoundly impact productivity, morale, and innovation.
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Workers Being in The Zone Tends to Perform More
Individuals who regularly experience the state of flow tend to be more productive and derive greater satisfaction from their work, according to one McKinsey & Company investigation. In a decade-long study conducted by the firm, top executives reported being five times more productive when in a peak state or experiencing flow. Moreover, flow is associated with a more than fourfold increase in creative problem-solving abilities, per a separate research from the University of Sydney.
Various sub-cultures have their colloquial terms for this experience, where people often refer to 'being in the zone,' 'hitting the sweet spot,' or 'being on fire' when describing a state of deep immersion in an activity. Individuals become so intensely focused that they lose awareness of themselves, only to emerge later surprised by their accomplishments. These experiences may initially appear mysterious, elusive, and even ambiguous. The seeming contradiction of effortlessly performing complex tasks can perplex many intelligent individuals about whether this state can be reverse-engineered.
According to SmartCompany, flow experiences have a truly remarkable psychophysiological blueprint. Unlike our typical physiological responses to challenges, flow activates distinct areas of the brain, optimizes neural networks, and transforms the body into an exceptionally efficient performance instrument, which is why it feels great.
The high level of internal congruence during flow experiences creates a sense of empowerment. Cortico-muscular coherence and synchronization between the mind and body lead to exceptional fluency in actions and communication, which is why it is termed "flow."
Experiencing flow regularly at work distinguishes between an ordinary day at the office and just a great day at work. It distinguishes a typical team that meets expectations from an exceptional team that propels the business forward.
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