Is it Mindful or is it a flow state?

Well, yes.  

For me it is both.  Let me explain a little.  

Here is a defenition of mindfulness (from Oxford Languages Dictionary):

“a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”

Here is a defenition of a flow state ( from Headspace.com):

” [a] sense of fluidity between your body and mind, where you are totally absorbed by and deeply focused on something, beyond the point of distraction. Time feels like it has slowed down. Your senses are heightened. You are at one with the task at hand, as action and awareness sync to create an effortless momentum.”

So both have focused attention but mindfulness is an awareness of the present moment and an acceptance of whatever is coming up for you feeling wise.  In a flow state, you become unaware of your surroundings and totally focused on the task at hand.    Flow states tend to occur when you have a match of skills, challenge and task as well as being an activity you are engaged by and something you find intrinsically rewarding.  If your skills exceed the task you would probably become bored and this not in flow and if your the challenge of a task iss such that the goals are unattainable then it unlikely that you would be able to reach a flow state.  

For me, having looked at my patterns when creating, I drop into flow when creating and when I am experiencing challenge I tend to drop into mindfulnes.  This ‘dropping into mindfulness’ means I engage with creating using the mindfulness principles that underpin my approach.  These principles enable me to be pretty resilient with challenge and over time I believe have helped me change the way my inner voice speaks to me.  I am no longer beleagured with and battling with a constant stream of criticism.  I am able to claim the title artist and teacher.  

In looking at flow states and mindfulness I am aware that I can use flow states as an escape, as avoidance but also as a way to tend to my own needs.  Being totally absorbed in that one thing (for me watercolour painting mostly) enables a sense of mental quiet that I need.  I think that sometimes we need to retreat, we need to fill our cup, we need to tend to ourselves.  We need to survive.

Noticing, it seems is always the first step.  So as with most things I tend to take stock, notice if I am binging, notice if it feels there is a balance.  For me there is.  Often when I sit down at my art desk the intent is to ffully connect with me.  To enjoy the process of making.  This is, without a doubt, good for me.  I tend to ahve both flow states and mindfulness in waht feels a good balance.  I’ve also noticed that, a bbit like if I wait too long to eat, I get cranky.  Things can feel off, I can feel less patient, more distracted, I feel less efficient (I sound like a washing machine needing a sservice).  I’m learning to pay attention to the little things are nudging me to create.  To create mindfully.  To create in the flow.