An open, honest question

[73BARMYPgsp]

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Alright-

In my first year, I had a professor talk about a phenomenon known in developmental circles as "flow." She described it as something that usually happens to those who are well into their career (just prior to middle age generally). It is the feeling that after an 8 hour (or sometimes much longer) day, only a few minutes has passed. It comes from having picked exaclty the right career for your personality. Otherwise described, it's like when you don't feel like work is "work" at all.

I am 36, and in the match. I have chosen a military career in psychology, and therefore matching is not really a worry for me. This is a function of the HPSP program and not really what I am writing about.

My practicum is OK, I guess but now that I am almost finished with the training for my 3rd career, I still do not have "flow." I have good days and bad days, but most of the time I have to force myself to drive to work, force myself to work on my dissertation, etc. I am interested in the work, but not completely swept away by it into "flow."

The only time I ever had anything like "flow" was when I was on active duty and I was managing the social work clinic at my hospital. I honestly did not care if it was Friday or Monday. I really enjoyed what I was doing. Everyday was different, and I think it was being in the Army more than it was doing the work. I loved putting on my uniform everyday, and all the extra curricular activites that I volunteered for (ie-Captain of the Hospital Running team, color guard, etc). It was fast paced, and the day was always over before I even noticed it had started.

When does "flow" start again for me? Can anyone relate?

 

[socialcog]

great thread! I do not know how to spell the person who coined 'flow' but I believe it is pronounced "chick-SENT-me-high". ha!

Like you, I have tossed around this notion of flow. Not because I am disgruntled in my life choices (this from someone who is currently applying to PhD programs 🙂), however I cannot say I am 'flowing' either. Is it possible that a state of 'flow' is not so polarized? black or white? Can flow be measured on a spectrum?

What are the mechanisms that impact one's ability to flow? Culture, spirituality, knowledge structures and schemas?

I will say 73BARMYPgsp, you do seem most elated or 'flowish' when you talk about the role running plays in your life. Maybe that is your flow. thoughts?

 

[73BARMYPgsp]

Indeed, running brings me a tremendous amount of joy, even though I weigh 210 lbs, and I am slow. I run 40+ miles per week and on the days that i don't, I feel like crap.

However, it seems like flow is a function of focus, time management and even "giving yourself time to worry, and stopping." Example--EVEN when I am running, I am planning my day, all of the things I need to get done, what I will do if I can't get it all done, etc. I even think about things like the direction my dissertation is going and so on. I just can't enjoy the run for what it is--me time. It's like activity one needs to have a start and a stop, then activity two starts. I just can't stop thinking about the next 15 activities, and truthfully, it is almost debilitating.

The organizing of priorities is also the issue (or maybe the same one). When I look at all the things on my plate on any given day, instead of naturally breaking it up into small, doable tasks, it looks like a giant, hairy monster that I cannot fight. For example, my dissertation looks like "MY DISSERTATION" singular. When in reality, it is read one article. Email professor about questions I have. Read another article. Write a few more paragraphs. And so on. But seeing the big monster makes me put it off and just watch TV, because it is too big to deal with right now. Watching TV does not "flow" create .

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

great thread! I do not know how to spell the person who coined 'flow' but I believe it is pronounced "chick-SENT-me-high". ha!

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. by: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Awesome book! (I think that is the one.....I read it about 10 years ago). If you want to buy it.....feel free to use the AMAZON SEARCH BOX at the bottom of the forum. 😀

On the topic of flow, I've experienced it both in sports and music a number of times, though only a couple times in academia (while writing). I would go for hours and it would just pour out of me.....a truly surreal experience.