As a reminder: Flow states have triggers we can use to make it more likely we drop into flow when desired!  Links below to the ones we’ve already covered!

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Creativity refers to developing original ideas that have value. Creativity is both a flow trigger and an output of flow. It’s easy to think of creativity as a flow trigger in what is generally regarded as the “free“ movement… Free skiing, free riding, free surfing etc. This is where we saw athletes really start using creativity in the manner that they express themselves in their sport. And, we also saw massive progression in those sports as people started engaging in this way.

Another manner of thinking about creativity is called pattern recognition. This is the idea that our brain can recognize connections between disparate things, and convert them into an original idea. Pattern recognition gives us a hit of dopamine in our brain as well, which is one of the first chemicals to show up in Flow! So this is how having a creative insight can be a pathway into flow.

Another way that we see pattern recognition show up in Flow is in some thing as simple as listening to music. When we recognize the beat or the song, we get that dopamine. That’s why you’ll see a lot of athletes do their sport to music. It helps them drop into flow.

Outside of sports, we can think about how to feed the pattern recognition system. Read, interact with interesting people who help you generate new ideas, and expose yourself to new ways of thinking.

There will be much more to come on pattern recognition, so for now consider this a teaser and an introduction to the importance of creativity as it relates to flow!