When we’re in flow, we’re in the zone, that beautiful place of creative expression. It’s typically accompanied with ease, grace, and a lost sense of time. Flow is place where new ideas sprout and grow. It’s where we feel energized and engaged in creative pursuit. In short, flow feels great.
Who doesn’t want flow?
But where do we find flow? And how do we move into it when we’re reeling from the world around us?
The past year has been triggering, disruptive, distracting, overwhelming, and for some of us, downright traumatizing. It has left so many of us feeling completely and utterly exhausted. It’s been easy, even necessary, to revert to old coping habits that allow us to escape, tune out, and numb down our feelings.
And, it’s exceedingly hard to flow when we’re experiencing any of the above.
So, if this is where you find yourself, know that you have my compassion and deep understanding. And, along with my compassion, I bring you some tips to find your flow again. Tips I use all the time to get back into my own flow.
Stay with your feelings — Feelings, when embraced, will begin to dissipate, and feel more manageable. This will allow you to stay in the moment, and it’s in the moment where we find flow.
Get your energy moving — Don’t wait for motivation. Move your body on a daily basis. Yoga, walks, workouts, dance. Movement will break up stagnant energy, helping you move into flow.
Take one step –– Get started. Jumpstart momentum by doing one small thing at a time. We strangle our flow by focusing only on the massive work we have to get done. Focus instead on one thing at a time and you will get it done. This helps you stay present, in the moment, and will increase feelings of accomplishment, and flow.
Let go of stagnating habits — Easier said than done, right? Yes, definitely, but here’s a way to start.
First, get clear about the habits which keep you stagnated. Notice which feelings trigger the desire to indulge in a habit. Stay with these feelings. When you do indulge in your habit, notice what happens to your sense of flow. No judgement here — just mindfulness. Remember — limiting habits start as coping strategies. The key is to stay with the feelings that we’re trying to avoid. Again, staying with your feelings will them process and become more manageable. This in itself will facilitate flow.
Acknowledge your shadows – Shadows are those disowned places within us. These shadows are often activated more acutely during times of stress. Learning to recognize them as they arise helps us form a new relationship with ourselves. Click here for my video on working with your shadows.
Use energy work — The goal of energy work is to help stuck energy move into a healthy flow. Recurring habits, reactions, and emotions signal that energy flow has been disrupted. Practices such as EFT Tapping, Matrix Reimprinting, Acupuncture, along with other energy modalities, are effective for clearing disruptions to flow.
Wishing you abundant flow,
Marian
For more information on using EFT Tapping to help let go of stagnation, and move into flow, click here.