Volume 03: Regenerative Mindset - Reciprocity, Synchronicity, Flow
FLOW
knowing when to wait, when to have patience
and knowing when to act, when to push forward
the ebb and flow
being in tune
working with the energy
participating, engaging, being present
that’s being in flow
like a surfer catching a wave
or a bird riding the wind
chasing the sun to the desert
exploring Earth’s crevices and caves
timing is everything
finding ease, rather than resistance
momentum to propel you
listening, being receptive
finding what is for you
Flow state is a powerful tool to tap into to optimize performance. When I think of flow, I think of synchronicity, reciprocity, being in relationship with what’s around you.
Giving and receiving, listening and then acting, knowing when to wait and when to strike, using momentum in your favor.
When there is a constant flow of energy filling your cup back up as you give, that is regeneration. The cyclical nature of our universe is in constant flow, she is always giving, if you are in a relationship with her, you will find synchronicity and you will find flow.
And Flow State, well, that’s how you change the game.
Start Here: Aubrey Marcus Podcast - Flow State
Let’s start with the neuroscience and measured performance benefits of this neuro-hormonal state. All of human performance is designed to work together on a systems level, it’s about getting ourselves into the right framework. What impossible challenges would you tackle if you knew you could be more productive, more creative, and more focused?
Flow is the optimal state of performance, attention, and presence, and once you find flow in one area, it is easier to drop into it in other areas of your life. It’s about getting your biology to work for you and not against you.
Flow state has an incredibly large impact on creativity, but it also amplifies productivity, motivation, innovation, empathy, ecological awareness, ability to perceive the natural world, strength, stamina, it accelerates learning and dims pain.
Evolution
Flow is how evolution shaped us to perform at our best
What shapes evolution? Scarcity of resources
2 options when resources are scarce: fight/flight or get creative and find new resources
Flow drives focus and presence in order to adapt to the current situation
Motivation - Flow triggers
Extrinsic motivators - Maslow’s hierarchy, our basic needs like food, shelter, security
Intrinsic motivators - curiosity, passion, purpose, autonomy, mastery
Curiosity = what lights you up, excites you, drives you to want to learn more
Passion = the intersection of multiple curiosities
Purpose = attach passion to a cause greater than yourself
Autonomy = freedom to pursue your purpose
Mastery = the skills to pursue your purpose well
Keep learning to continue acceleration
Creativity to steer
Flow to turbo-boost
Personality doesn’t scale, biology scales - what triggers my flow state will be different than what triggers yours. It’s about finding your curiosities, passions, purpose.
Psychology is metaphor - “mindset”
Neuroscience is mechanism - “hormone pathways, chemicals”
Divergent vs convergent thinking
Flow massively increases divergent thinking = creativity
Creativity = both/and = requires more emotions
Struggle will usually precede flow
Struggle means you’re doing something right
Fear means you’re going in the right direction
On my heels, shift to forward leaning stance, on my toes - Let’s fucking go
My process in finding the flow
Struggle precedes flow: The Void
January I landed in Portland with the plan to help start a new farming operation in Hood River. After 2 months of searching, I finally thought I had a job, housing, even my bed had been moved into the new place. The day I landed, all of that went away in a split second. No job, nowhere to live, no bed. Total Darkness, in the abyss. I needed to adapt, and quickly.
Luckily, I’ve had some training in survival mode. I knew I needed to maintain composure and get myself back to center and my nervous system out of fight or flight and into finding new resources before I could make any sound decisions. The overwhelm and anxiety were there, but I knew how to override that. Float tank, yoga, gut reset, carnivore-diet, meditation, journaling, dream interpretation. Diving into my Unconscious to tap into the intuition that is my guide. This was happening for me, not to me…
I had to Surrender, I had to say yes to everything that was happening. The more I resisted the more I would have kept myself in a high-stress state, the less centered I would have been. I pivoted, adapted and started to work towards finding focus, finding flow. What now??
What lights me up right now? What am I curious about? What am I passionate about? What is my purpose? This was happening for me, not to me. Giving me autonomy, the freedom to pursue my passions…Creation.
Fear plus excitement: The Right Direction
I started getting creative. I put out my first newsletter, I started sharing videos and being more vulnerable, I joined a MasterMind community, I began reaching out to farms, butchers, markets, making calls and setting up meetings, putting myself out there and asking for help, being creative, chasing my curiosity. I was scared but I was also excited. I was having incredible conversations with awesome humans who wanted to help me and encourage me. I was slowly finding focus, finding flow.
I continued to fill my cup and surround myself with those that want to see me succeed. Y’all, I have some damn incredible friends.
Keep learning to continue acceleration: Creativity to steer, Flow to turbo-boost
A few things that spark inspiration and curiosity for me are travel and meeting new people. I followed my intuition and jumped on the opportunity to road trip through the desert. Boy did that decision provide a turbo-boost.
I felt the uncertainty lifting. Not so much because I had anything figured out yet, but because I was reminded of the endless possibilities. If something doesn’t work out, it was not meant for you. I was reminded of everything that I am so grateful for: amazing friends, badass babes living into their full expression and freedom, nature and the endless adventures, my ability to overcome, to persevere with a level head, to adapt and be resilient, my immense trust in myself, my faith in my intuition and following my purpose. Faith is the only thing that helps us walk through risk. When you speak your desires and then you show the universe that you are committed, that you are willing to trust and surrender AND put in the work, when you listen, then you are rewarded. When you are in relationship with what’s around you and there is reciprocity, that is where you find flow.
In the middle of San Rafael Swell, Utah, with the fiery desert sun blaring down and the Leo Full Moon beaming, the 3 of us embraced ourselves fully and completely, and stood in our full expression. In ceremony, naked on the edge of a cliff, we roared (literally) loudly. We stepped toward the fire and said “I am ready, I am worthy.” I had been working on expression and opening my throat chakra, aligning my heart and my soul with how I express myself in the world, and this was a powerful ritual for me. I felt the shift, the goosebumps, the soul fire. I knew right then that something big was coming….
I leaned in, shifted from my heals to my toes, vowed to listen, to follow the flow.
Astrology to access flow state
Now that we know the neuroscience behind flow state, let’s look at the more ethereal.
Using our senses and noticing the subtle energies around us is not a part of our mainstream culture, but it is a powerful tool to tap into. One way to start to do that is with astrology.
Just like all of human performance is designed to work together, so too, is our universe. The cyclical nature of the planets and their movements show us where the momentum is, how to get our environment to work for us and not against us, how we can be in relationship with reciprocity, how to harness the flow.
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius is all about collaboration and community, wellness, systems, action, doing the work
Jupiter in Aquarius (December 2020-December 2021)
Faith - What do you have faith in?
Jupiter says “I have a great idea!”
Saturn in Aquarius (2020-2023)
Form - How does the form of your life prove or disprove your faith?
Saturn says “You better work, bitch.”
Mercury in Aquarius
Communication in the present moment, real-time thought, listening and connection.
When we’re in spirituality, we’re breathing, we’re focused, we’re present.
Leo Full Moon
Leo is ruled by the sun, life force.
Walk through the fire with no sign of scorch.
Take a leap of faith.
Lion, courage, heart, worthiness.
In the desert, pride rock
crown upon me, sun beaming down, wind in my mane
fierce roar, penetrating every crevice
like the sun’s light, illuminating every shadow
Queen of the jungle
Rise amidst the coronation, roar loudly
Continued pursuit to find flow
I used to say I was chasing the flow, but what came to me now was that I am harnessing the flow. I have found it, I know what it feels like, now it’s time to work with it, build a deeper relationship with it, give and receive, faith and action, reciprocity.