Find Your Flow

Pyrography brings me so much joy and it is one of the few things I have found in life that helps me get into that elusive 'flow' state. I love how time slips away and you get 'lost' in a piece. It's such an escape, and a form of therapy for me. There are endless possibilities with it, and always more to learn, and more to experiment with. For me, it is more than just a hobby, it’s an integral part of who I am.

It is rare for me, in this hyper active and distracting world, to be completely focussed on a single task. But pyrography becomes that vessel for me; I am able to switch off my mind and racing thoughts, and shush my ego, and just ‘burn’. I find this intrinsically rewarding, motivating and emotionally grounding. It helps me self-regulate and feel safe, in my own little cocoon; a haven.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and the father of positive psychology, coined the term ‘flow state’, and believed it was a combination of a few key components, some of which involve clear goals, immediate feedback, a balance of challenge and skill, a sense of control, few distractions, and a rewarding task.

"The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost," Csíkszentmihályi said.

I truly believe that each individual has their subjective area/s of flow, where they would function best. This could be in the creative arts, such as painting, drawing, or writing, or in a sport, cooking, gaming, programming.

My hope for you is that you have found a similar outlet which you enjoy and matches your skill set; something which neither overwhelms, nor under-stimulates, but feels like a zone of ‘bliss’. What a place to be!