“The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow, the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter…”
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t 100% willing to go back to college. I had taken a small hiatus in between classes, which was dearly needed. As a single mother, it was hard to take two classes at the same time, while balancing daily life with two children. When I failed my online course, I realized that I needed a break. However, similar to a shark, once I stop swimming, I die. Or in this case, throw away all of my hard work. So, I sucked it up and signed up for another online course. Positive psychology didn’t really stand out to me in any way. It was just another course I needed to take in order to qualify for my bachelor’s degree. While I wasn’t fully mentally prepared for this course, I sure am glad I took it.
Renewable Energy: FLOW
What really touched me the most during the past weeks was FLOW. It can be defined as a mental state of operation in which the person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In my opinion, FLOW can really do wonders regarding one’s mental state. Feeling down? Engage in an activity that encourages FLOW. Not feeling too hot? Engage in an activity that encourages FLOW. However, I can say that I was confused about what produced flow. I used to think that in order to experience FLOW, you had to do some sort of physical activity. In actuality, flow can be implemented into everyday living. FLOW can be experienced when surfing, reading, or just simply spending time with family.
Letting Vitality FLOW into your Life
This course helped me see that with a little adjustment one can implement FLOW into their daily life. One doesn’t have to break their back to attain FLOW. It may even be that one has already found FLOW in their lives, they just haven’t realized it yet. Many people have a busy schedule and many events going on to the point where it may seem as if the stress may swallow them whole. As a single mother with two children, my schedule is jam-packed with activities. Participating in FLOW may help with the stress load that one may face on a daily basis. What that means is that even though life may seem hard and complicated, there are things that I can do to destress and redirect my focus. It’s essential to take the time to decompress and gain a peace of mind.
About the Author: Sandy Cesar is a single mother trying to pursue a degree at Chaminade University. She hopes to become a psychologist and help people understand the way they process their thoughts. She loves to exercise and enjoys spending time with her children.