It's cool today so I was in no hurry to go outside to do garden work. Instead, I sat at the kitchen table by the window and sewed. I was hoping for an experience of flow, but I simply felt content.
I was reading about flow in the book sheepish by Catherine Friend. She describes it as a sense of being so involved in an activity for the sheer joy of it -- not necessarily for the outcome -- that nothing else seems to matter. Flow was identified and made famous by a Hungarian psychologist, Mihalv Csikszentmihalyi, and the little research I've done on it shows that it's being applied to competitive sports.
But I'm thinking stitching or knitting would be better and more practical pathways to flow. Don't you agree?
sounds like flow is the same thing as 'being in the zone'. easy for me to be in the zone when i'm doing any of my crafty things.
ReplyDeleteThe more flow the better!xxx
ReplyDeleteI read Flow by Csikszentmihalyi, eons ago. Yes, it applies to any activity in which you are in the "zone". I really think he describes that meditative quality you feel when you are totally immersed in your project - gardening, painting, knitting, stitching, etc. I personally love when I am in the this state. It is like floating on a river of bliss. Wishing you lots of days that flow.
ReplyDeleteI like your description of experiencing the flow, time slows with the sheer contentment of stitching.
ReplyDeleteI am in the "zone" every evening a l sew the last hour before sleep...peace and contentment.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to read about FLOW here too Peggy. We are in the same zone. I just read recently on FB (I know, I'm in there too!) and I want to share it with you: http://zenhabits.net/un/- have a happy flowing day - Love Nat
ReplyDeleteDeanna, yes, being in the zone is a good way to put it, I think. I just really have a hard time keeping my mind (and judgments) out of what I'm doing and that keeps me from entering the zone!
ReplyDeleteTrish, I'm with you on that one!
ReplyDeleteJeannie, thank you and the same wish for you! -- I hadn't thought about gardening in the flow but yes, there is that sense of losing time, losing all aches & pains, forgetting about problems, etc. That's where I usually go to stop the carnival of the mind...
ReplyDeleteJudy, now that's what I want!-- and I think kantha stitching is key because it doesn't require too many decisions in the process...
ReplyDeleteLynda, what a perfectly wonderful way to end the day! I love that. Sometimes I take knitting to bed but my light isn't good enough to stitch by. I could remedy the situation though.
ReplyDeleteNat, love that when we, all of us here, tap into each other's thoughts -- I will definitely check out this link and a happy flowing day to you, too! xo
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