Discipline + Surrender = Flow

How do you find flow when nothing feels like it's flowing?

Everything feels difficult, you struggle to find motivation, and you can't seem to stay focused.

The concept of flow is rooted in a Taoist principle called "Wu Wei". It's the combination of effortless action and an immersion in the present moment.

It's the most aspirational state of consciousness where we feel and perform at our best.

Our sense of time evaporates and this beautiful richness and presence appears.

We feel more balanced, calm and optimized.

It's the harmonious nervous system state where you are alert and focused, but relaxed and calm.

So much is possible from this state, but we're very rarely shown how to achieve it and stay in it for long periods of time.

Flow lives at the intersection of discipline and surrender.

It's the sweet spot where discipline is the structure that allows you to show up when it is hard and surrender is where you can release and let go of expectations and perfectionism.

It's the perfect balance between chaos and order where you aren't clinging too tightly to how or why you're doing what you're doing, and you're trusting in your body and mind to get you to where you're going.

When we balance these two–discipline and surrender–we create the perfect conditions for flow. It's an environment where focus and ease can coexist and where effort becomes effortless.

So when things are hard and flow is fleeting, ask yourself: where can I practice more discipline? And where can I let go and surrender to the process?

When you can master both, that's when flow finds you!