Why flow is just as important to your business as productivity

As a business owner, you have a lot to do, so it makes sense that you want to figure out how to be as productive as possible and make the most of your time. Yet, there is another dimension to your time that often gets overlooked.

Because it’s not only about the amount of time you have (or don’t have), it’s also about how you feel during the time when you’re working in your business. The reason is that how you feel, your state of being as you’re working, has an enormous effect on the quality of work you produce as well as the level of enjoyment you experience as you do it. And who doesn’t want to create remarkable work and have fun while you’re doing it?

Enjoying your work with STER

You’ve probably heard the term, flow. This is the feeling I’m talking about. In the book Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, they refer to this state of flow as ecstasis. 

They propose “four characteristics of ecstasis: selflessness, timelessness, effortlessness and richness or STER for short.” Let’s take a closer look at each one of these and how they relate to your business.

Selflessness

This is about getting rid of that nagging voice in your head that disapproves of your ideas and your work. It’s about getting out of your head. “By stepping outside of ourselves, we gain perspective.”

Timelessness

Now. The present. This is the only place where reality exists. Yet we spend so much time replaying business mistakes from the past or anticipating failures in the future that we often miss the moment right in front of us.

There is an abundance of clarity in the present moment, so if you want to make better decisions, stay in the moment. Plus, it’s much more relaxing.

Effortlessness

When we are in flow, the body releases pleasure chemicals. These chemicals are behind effortlessness. “I did it, it felt awesome, I’d like to do it again as soon as possible.”

If you can, identify the marketing activities in your business that you connect with and that you’re passionate about doing, you will want to do them more often. And remember that marketing doesn’t have to be stressful. For more on this, check out my article "Make marketing easier by applying mindfulness".

Richnesss

Richness is “a reference to the vivid, detailed, and revealing nature of non-ordinary states.” One way to reach a non-ordinary state, or altered state, is meditation.

Control of consciousness determines the quality of life

- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi from Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

How psychology and neurobiology change your work

The authors also discuss the “Four Forces of Ecstatis: psychology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and technology." I want to look deeper at two of these, psychology and neurobiology, and how they apply to your business.

Psychology

Personal development is directly related to your business development. The better you know and understand yourself, the more success and enjoyment you will derive from your business.

A study of leaders by Bill Torbert referenced in the book found that “those at the top of the developmental pyramid not only were more ethical and empathetic, they performed better in the workplace as well.” This led the authors to conclude, “Consciousness, it turns out, goes straight to the bottom line.”

The Power of Now

I’ve already mentioned the present moment and now, as it relates to timelessness (the T in STER). The book Stealing Fire mentions Eckhart Tolle, his video series and how his work is all about STER. I highly recommend Tolle’s book, The Power of Now. Solving your business challenges and tapping into your creativity happen most effectively in the present moment.

Meditation

Meditation is another way to get out of your head and enter an altered state. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and you can get started with just 10 minutes a day.

Gratitude

Actively practising gratitude on a consistent basis can shift how you feel as you do your work. 

The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become

- Robert Holden

Neurobiology

Webster defines neurobiology as “a branch of the life sciences that deals with the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system.”

The authors of Stealing Fire point out, “Advances in neurobiology, meanwhile, have clarified our understanding of what is happening in our brains and bodies when we experience a range of mental states. 

What is certain is that our thoughts in our brain are not disconnected and secluded from the rest of our body, and we need to be careful about trying to think our way out of every business challenge. The ego is clever and doesn’t always put your best interests first.

Power pose

You may have heard of Amy Cuddy and her "power pose", which is a technique that uses the body to inform the mind. In Kim Elesser’s 2018 article in Forbes, she explains Cuddy’s concept this way:

“She suggested that our body language governs how we think and feel about ourselves, and thus, how we hold our bodies can have an impact on our minds. In other words, by commanding a powerful stance, we can make ourselves actually feel more powerful.”  

Yoga

Practising yoga is one way to access higher states of awareness. You can take a break from work and do it on your own at home. If you’re craving some interaction and need a break from being at home, head out and join a class.

Exercise

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated in your business, start moving. Exercise is a wonderful way to improve your mood. Getting out of the office and into nature for a walk can give you fresh insights and new ideas.

You are more than your brain

I hope you’re starting to see that you can influence how you feel in your business. Take charge of how you feel when you’re working by using some of the approaches shared here.

Choose a couple of ideas that resonate with you and see if they make a difference in what you create and how you feel when you do it.