#flow

#flow

Golfers know it. Musicians know it. And anyone who's ever overprepared for a conversation knows it: Tension gets in the way of flow. When golfers try to control every variable, they often tighten up and slice the shot. But when they swing easily, trusting their preparation and instincts, the ball flies straighter and farther. In a world that glorifies the hustle and bustle, the idea of doing less to achieve more feels almost rebellious.

Sam sits in his noisy apartment, surrounded by the distractions of his digital life. His research is scattered across a dozen tabs. He writes a sentence, then deletes it. Doubt creeps in: "Is this the right way to start?" Before long, he's scrolling through social media, half-heartedly checking his email, and staring at his chaotic desk-a mirror of his cluttered mind. After two hours, he has little to show for it but frustration and dread.

Actual flow - the state of "effortless effort" - was coined by Goethe, referring to a dizzying sort of ecstasy.