Finding Flow...

La Paz River, Costa Rica. Photograpy by Ron Niebrugger

So I've been searching FLOW, personal flow, creative flow, or just plain flow.... When I think of flow, rivers are the first thing that comes to mind. I've always felt close to rivers, the constant perseverance of moving water, in small amounts or big amounts, through rocks, roots, dead tree trunks, mud, or ice. They flow carefree. No hesitation. No returning on their tracks. If they find an obstacle, they flow around it.... or water builds up until there is enough quantity to overcome it... all with such a 'suave' cool and calm way to it. I'm jealous.

Granted, sometimes rivers flow wildly, trashing down everything on their way, pulling out trees from their muddy riverside, knocking down chunks of earth. I've been told you can hear them coming... a rumbling sound giving a warning. But those are rare occasions easy to predict after long days of non stop rain. I like the smooth rivers with a nice edge to them, say level 3 white water rafting rivers... You can ride them with no previous rafting experience, with a guide and the appropiate gear.

Anyhoo, FLOW is not happening to me right now. I crave it, but it is avoiding me. I have all kinds of creative ideas in my head and no 'umpf' to get them into actions that transform them into things. In my flowless umpf-less desperation, I remembered a friend telling me about a psychologist who researched "flow". He wrote book that may help unblock my existencial dam... "Finding Flow: The Psychology of engagement with everyday life" by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly.

I"ll let you know if it helps. I think I have a few more weeks before returning it to the library. In the mean time, if you are flowing, let me know your secret, even if it isnt a secret at all.