Rediscover the Fun and Flow Again
Performance enhancement therapy
is a cutting edge therapeutic modality that helps athletes and creatives who are experiencing a performance slump or block. The “yips” (lost move syndrome), slump or block can come on suddenly, leaving the athlete, creative or performer feeling confused, anxious, scared or a sense of shame. Without treatment, confidence wanes and a loss of interest in the activity that once brought much joy soon follows.
EMDR and Brainspotting are highly effective therapies that help identify and heal the underlying issue(s) that result in loss of performance. These modalities help regulate the nervous system, clear the obstacles and blocks that are negatively impacting performance and tap into one’s inner strengths via guided imagery. As the anxiety and stress diminish, the fun and flow state can return once again.
Who can benefit from performance enhancement therapy?
• Musicians
• Actors and Actresses feeling blocked or wanting to connect with or develop a character
• Athletes (Professional or recreational)
• Writers
• Artists
finding your flow
The Flow or zone is that space or state where a sense of time is lost, and mind and body are in synchronicity. It is an experience many have felt when one is so immersed in an enjoyable and challenging task, but few know how to replicate it when lost. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was a positive psychologist who was the first to research this optimal performance experience, particularly in relation to happiness and wellbeing. The near effortless ease with which the work flowed out of the athletes, musicians and artists studied, led Csikszentmihalyi to identify the Characteristics of Flow.
• Complete concentration on the task
• Clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback
• Transformation of time (speeding up / slowing down)
• The experience is intrinsically rewarding
• Effortlessness and ease
• A balance between challenge and skill
• Actions and awareness are merged, losing self-conscious rumination
• There is a feeling of control over the task
How to Achieve a Flow State
The primary step in finding a flow state is to eliminate distractions and mindfully focus on the task or goal you are wanting to participate in. The task has to be challenging enough to one’s skill level without being overly difficult, as to avoid anxiety and stress. If the challenge is too small, distraction and boredom arise. Flow state is the Goldilocks or balance of challenge and skill. It is important to note, the task one is participating in has to be enjoyable!
* If you want to learn more about the Flow State, I highly recommend Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.
