Creative flow is a mental state in which you’re fully present and immersed in a task. It’s what most writers, artists, and other creatives long for, to be able to let go, connect with creative flow, and make work with greater ease. Creative flow a state of mind that becomes accessible when you’re fully present in the moment, and being in the zone of this flow makes creating doing most anything so much easier and more enjoyable. The conceptual thought about what you’re doing, the self-criticism, self-doubt, and creative anxiety fall away. When you’re in a flow state, you’re in a creative zone, in a flow of creative energy that comes with ease.
Let go into a flow state and feel a sense of creative freedom
For most people, creative flow is something that happens only occasionally. If you look at the research on flow, you’ll come to realize, as did I, that you can likely increase the amount of time you spend in creative flow by practicing meditation.
Studies have shown that meditators who practiced open monitoring meditation showed increased mood as well as increased fluency, flexibility and originality, which are all measures of divergent thinking. Other studies have shown that positive mood increases divergent thinking. Both a positive mood and divergent thinking can boost creativity, both while you’re engaged in creative expression and in other areas of your life.
Open Monitoring Meditation
Open monitoring meditation is a practice of Insight meditation in which you expand your awareness to allow awareness of any sensations, feelings, or thoughts that arise. And then you rest your attention on whatever arises, notice when your attention wanders and it will, because that’s what minds do. The practice isn’t about stopping the mind from wandering. It’s about being aware when it wanders and then bringing it back to the object of your attention, which, in this practice, is whatever sensations, feelings, or thoughts arise in the field of your open awareness.
If you haven’t already, please do check out my post on “How to Meditate” for more details about meditation practice. And if you’d like more information on mindful writing, check out Jen’s upcoming Mindful Writing for Transformation online workshops here.