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!

Risk drives norepinephrine into your system, a powerful neurotransmitter that’s responsible for creating adrenaline in your body.  While I don’t recommend seeking risk to get into flow, there’s no doubt that many flowy activities are inherently risky.  It’s also worth mentioning that risk is risk: social, financial, adventure, entrepreneurial, etc. all manifest the same in our bodies – our brains don’t differentiate different types of risk!     

 As risk goes up, flow becomes more useful – because action and awareness merge and performance increases substantially, we almost seamlessly react to whatever happens when we’re in flow.  

 Deep into ski season, the risk flow trigger is everywhere for me!  Skiing in general feels kind of risky to me, maybe because I’ve been injured and made avalanches.  Opening up terrain (i.e. skiing it before others have) in the backcountry is when I feel this trigger most poignantly, perhaps: my senses are ignited as I’m observing the snowpack and making decision before the run, and then when dropping in it’s “all systems go” complete focus and total consumption in what I’m doing.  Watching for hazards/terrain changes, feeling my way down in flat or low light, being on the lookout for moving snow, etc.  

 There are many situations where you “have” to make it – a one-way landing, a gap jump, a cliff/drop you didn’t see coming in your ski line, and so many more!  While flow isn’t a guarantee that you’re successful, it’s worthwhile to be more in flow when the risk factor goes up! 

 As I said above, other types of risk count too!  I gave a speech about a big avalanche a few years ago, and it’s safe to say I was deep in flow for it 🙂  The audience was local, the topic was all about an experience I’d long felt shame over, and it was my first time speaking to an audience of 500 people – suffice it to say, there was plenty of social risk for me!