Why walk to the South Pole?  To banish time. 

Erling Kagge — who walked to the South Pole in 50 days, by himself – believes that time banishment is a significant motive for most people who take epic expeditions. 

Kagge says that on an expedition “momentary flashes of experience can be compared to eternity.  . . . .  Past and future are meaningless. . . . Time is banished.” There are moments on expeditions, especially the challenging ones, where he becomes fully present – in the flow. 

Flow: (In the zone) a state when we lose track of time, place and our-self/ego.   We are fully and skillfully engaged in the present moment.

What’s so great about flow?

Flow produces strong doses of neurochemicals that help us feel deep enjoyment.  The actions of flow help us experience the satisfaction of personal growth – becoming more than we were.

The following feelings are frequently experienced in states of Flow:

• Complete focus on what we are doing 
• A sense of ecstasy 
• Great inner clarity 
• A sense that our skills are adequate to the task
• Worries and self-awareness disappear
• Timelessness – time is banished

Flow is correlated with high performance in the fields of artistic and scientific creativity,  teaching, learning, and sports.  Flow is associated with increased persistence and achievement and lower anxiety during various activities.

What happens when a classical pianist enters a state of Flow?  Their heart rate and blood pressure decrease, their major facial muscles relax, and their performance improves.

Athletes who experience Flow describe the effortlessness of their actions while achieving their personal best performance.

How do you find Flow?

There are 3 conditions to reach a state of Flow.

1. Know what to do and how to do it
2. Clear immediate feedback to adjust our actions
3. Good balance between the challenge and our skills

When Erling Kagge comes to a dangerous fissure in the ice:

1. He knows what he needs to do – cross it.  And he knows the techniques to make this crossing.
2. He experiences clear and immediate feedback – this is working or this needs adjusted.
3. His skill level is adequate for the challenge of crossing the fissure. 

One of the key features of Flow is that we are on the edge of our ability. The task takes all of our attention – all of us. Tasks that are too easy or too hard do not reach Flow.

I resonate with Erling  Kagge’s desire to banish time, but I would not experience Flow while crossing a dangerous ice fissure. My skill level is not adequate for the task. Walking to the South Pole is an activity I will probably not choose in life. But I have other places to find Flow. 

When do you experience Flow? What activities that you enjoy, take all of your attention – all of you?  Where are you on – not over or under – the edge of your ability? 

Soul Sculpting Project: Finding Flow

1. Invite God’s company. God is the designer of our body’s state of flow. God knows us by name — inside and outside– and can help us find a flow that fits us.
2. Ponder:  Where do I find Flow?
3. Plan to spend some time in a potential Flow activity.

 The Flow Warning Label:

• The state of Flow is not a 24/7 experience. Kagge must do the tedious work of planning, preparing supplies and honing his physical and emotional skills to take his expeditions. Musicians must practice. Flow states are preceded and followed by hours of non-flow states.
• Flow also requires us to keep learning and seeking new challenges. Uncomfortable and Flow go hand in hand.

I hope to step into the uncomfortable, highly enjoyable state of Flow this week. I invite you to join me.

Gratitude to the many researchers on the topic of Flow. Here are three: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Pronounced: muh·hay·lee chik- sent- mee –hai– ee), Steven Kotler, Susan O’Neill.  

And my gratitude to Erling Kagge’s thoughtful reflections in Philosophy for Polar Explorers.