Being in the Zone-The Flow Experience

What struck me most during this weeks reading was the “flow experience.” The book Success Built To Last talked about an experiment conducted by a research team from the University of Chicago. The experiment consisted of a diverse group of people from all around the world wearing beepers. “The group included farmers, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, priests, nuns, and government officials” (Porras, Emery, & Thompson, 2007).  When those involved in the experiment were paged at random they were asked to write in a journal about what they were doing, and the quality of their experience at the time. “From compilations of journal entries gathered from all of the participants, patterns emerged yielding the principles of what was called the flow experience. When you are deeply immersed in the process of doing whatever you are doing, and completely lose track of time and place, you are in a flow experience” (Porras, Emery, & Thompson, 2007). I find the “flow experience” to be so important when doing what you love. “Doing what you love attracts you even when you’re too tired to do anything else” (Porras, Emery, & Thompson, 2007).  I personally feel like mostly everyday I am at work I end up in the flow experience. I love my job and the majority of the time I lose track of the time and even sometimes where I am!
I think it is so very important to love what you do in life. “If you want to have success that outlasts any job you have, then only love will find the way” (Porras, Emery, & Thompson, 2007). This quote is so true in life.  The book goes on to say “be warned: the relentless irritation of not loving what you do makes you a pain to be around and has been clinically proven to chip away at your health.” I used to work at a call center, and it was the worst job of my life. My entire shifts consisted of sitting in a tiny cubicle, having angry customers calling and complaining about the most miniscule things. For example one customer wanted the waters to be left on the second step but the driver put them on the porch so it would be easier to get them inside. This customer was irate over such a small thing, which in the long run benefited her. Needless to say I didn’t last long at that job.
In today’s society people do what they thinks others want from them instead of what they really love. The book says that your job should seduce you to the point where you lose interest in everything else to an extent that you become socially inept around the people who couldn’t care less about whatever it is. Loving what you do should be on the top of your list. I remember during last weeks reading the book talked about loving what you do to the point where you do not consider it work or a job. I am so grateful to love what I do which is helping others.




References:
Porras, J. , Emery, S. & Thompson, M. (2007). Success Built To Last: Creating A Life That Matters. New York: Penguin Group.