This month we explore what constitutes a "Flow State" or the states called Dharana and Dhyana in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Audio-only version: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15EA3EI4fv9jg5brtFUnzb-ZVztZ8D5bJ

I reference an important book in my life and personal evolution that I read in college, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book "Flow": https://amzn.to/4fTQhoQ

Flow occurs when three conditions align:
1. You have a clear goal or sense of purpose, it aligns with your values
2. You receive immediate feedback, internal or external, letting you know how you’re doing in the moment.
3. The challenge matches your current skill/resource level—not too easy, not too hard, but just right, right now.

We unpack this all and more in this Satsang Soul Circle!

Time stamps:
0:00-12:00 - Storytime about my history in Los Angeles and our beloved Potluck pal Winter Reign
12:00-24:00 - Flow State teaching
24:00-End - Soul Circle + interspersed Flow State teachings

Journal Prompts:

1. What activities naturally draw you into a state of flow? Why do you think those resonate with you?
2. Think back to a recent moment when you felt completely absorbed. What conditions made that possible? How did it feel in your body and mind?
3. Are there distractions that pull you away from flow? Why do you think that happens? How might you work with those distractions? Write about a recurring distraction in your life. What strategies could you use to minimize its impact and create space for flow?
4. Can you recognize when you are not in a flow state? For example, do you feel anxious, bored, or distracted? What clues does your body or mind give you?
5. What would support you in constantly assessing your resources of the present moment? What are some of your non-flow experiences and what could you do to change them? Make them more challenging/engaging? Make them simpler? More aligned with your values? Solicit more feedback? What does that look like?
6. How often do you set clear goals or identify a clear purpose for an activity? Could a lack of clarity be blocking your flow?
7. Do you notice moments where the challenge is too great, creating frustration? Or where it is too easy, leading to boredom? How does this imbalance impact your ability to stay present?
8. Reflect on Csikszentmihalyi’s definition of flow: clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between challenge and skill. How do these elements show up in your favorite activities?
9. Are there specific habits, environments, or routines that consistently help you access flow? What makes these conditions effective?
10. Describe a time when you felt completely absorbed in an activity. What were you doing? How did it feel? What conditions supported that experience?
11. How does your yoga practice prepare you to experience flow in other areas of your life?
12. Reflect on the balance between effort and ease in your practice. What lessons does it offer about finding flow?
13. Are there areas of your life where you crave more flow? What small shifts could you make to create the right conditions?
14. Identify one habit or routine you could adjust to better align with flow. For example, could you change your workspace, schedule, or approach to a task?
15. Explore a moment when the balance of challenge and skill felt perfect. What can you do to replicate those conditions in other areas of your life?