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The importance of taking ownership of one's actions (Flow)
I have just finished to read and summarize "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience".
I must first say that I believe that "flow" is being over-hyped these days.
Why?
One because you can only reach flow in activities you're already good at. So it's not a state to really improve and work on your weaknesses. And two because not every activity lends itself to flow.
That's why I usually recommend focussing more on "full concentration" in Deep Work style rather than on flow. The two are similar but deep work does not require all the steps necessary for flow (like for example the immediate feedback).
However, there is a huge golden nugget in "Flow".
And it's this:
Take Ownership of Your Tasks
You cannot enter flow -or even enjoy life- when you are doing anything that you haven't personally chosen to do.
This was a major issue for me: the moment the alarm rang in the morning I hated it and immediately got into a "me VS anyone else who's forcing me to wake up" mode.
It felt like I was "forced" to get up and prepare for work.
Needless to say, that made me groggy, unhappy and confrontational.
The moment I forced myself to change the attitude I became happier and more effective.
What was the new attitude?
That nobody forces me to get up! Which is nothing but the truth.
And if nobody forces me, then I must have chosen it.
It's me who is choosing to get up!
I recommend you take a similar approach to as many tasks you can.
You are always free to choose. And if you are doing, it's because you have chosen to.
So take ownership of those tasks.
