Living in Flow State
Why "The Struggle" is an Illusion and How to Overcome It
Contrary to popular belief, life is not a struggle, and shouldn’t be viewed as one.
Viewing things this way is a form of self-sabotage. The solution is living in flow state, learning how to ride currents of energy and let life be.
Whether you are a business owner, creative, or just someone trying to get by in life, this is a crucial paradigm shift to understand. One that, if internalized, could completely transform your life.
“The Struggle is Real” - or is it?
The idea that our existence is this grueling grind largely comes from the ego, it is a form of attention seeking and validation.
Even when life is difficult, it is never a struggle as is popularly defined.
Maybe back when we had to live off the land and toil from sun up to sun down to eke out an existence, life could have been construed by some as a struggle, but even this is not accurate because such hard labor is honorable and many know well the pleasures of a simple life.
Creature comforts often feed the ego which is what leads to views like “life is a struggle” in the first place.
There are certainly difficulties and challenges in life. These are necessary for growth, and are impossible to avoid.
Viewing life as a constant struggle has more to do with internalizing discomfort than it does any actual challenges. Most people who are caught up in the “struggle is real” mindset don’t have very many actual problems.
This can sound harsh or even cruel, but it’s the reality. It’s the kind of thing an overdeveloped ego is loathe to hear, however, because the ego stakes its claim on having a mountain of burdens to deal with.
Ever notice that literally everyone with a negative mindset has this neverending laundry list of nebulous “problems”? Most of them can usually be boiled down to “life not working out the way I expected it to go and therefore I have to respond negatively to it.”
This is all psychology and energy dynamics. The “struggle” comes from perception, not reality.
It is actually very easy to misinterpret a particular event as a “negative thing” and then identify with that negative thing. This in turn creates a depressive state of being that makes navigating around this thing very arduous from a mental and emotional perspective.
That is the key word, however, “perspective.” This way of viewing life is delusional, it’s not based at all in reality.1
Living Life at Face Value
Before progressing to a true flow state, one first must give up the notion that life is a struggle.
This is what it means to live life at face value, to simply accept the reality of whatever we encounter without internalizing it or misinterpreting anything.
This state of being is achieved by giving up attachments to certain preconceived and delusional outcomes. “Letting life be” frees you from expectation, which is always toxic and creates negative energy states.
As simple a concept as this is, it’s actually not all that common. You can set your Self apart and become a force to be reckoned with simply by accepting life as it comes and approaching challenges with a healthy and happy mindset, zero attachment.
Points to consider:
Most of the feeling of difficulty and suffering that comes from a particular task or event is the result of wishing it would go a certain way, ie living in the future. Train your mind to live in the present and revel in the present moment.
Adopt a mindset of appreciation and gratitude. A feeling of suffering sets in as a result of ingratitude. If you are appreciative toward something, it is very difficult to find it mentally or emotionally taxing.
Stop viewing challenges and obstacles as punishment and start viewing them as growth catalysts. We’re conditioned to view life’s challenges as gut punches rather than blessings. You won’t hear a successful person refer to setbacks and obstacles as problems or punishment - it’s simply all part of the game.
These simple mindset adjustments will not only help you overcome that feeling of “the struggle” but also increase your chances of entering a flow state.
We’re dealing with energy dynamics here, which means there is infinite upside to what is achievable. Not satisfied with just having a “healthy mindset,” which is in itself a limiting concept that is easy to get attached to.
Instead of waiting for a flow state to find you, let’s see how we can go in the complete opposite direction as a “life is suffering” mindset in order to become a walking dynamo of energy.
What is Flow State?
The concept of "flow" has permeated human culture for centuries, whether through Eastern philosophies such as Taoism or Buddhism, or through the Western study of optimal psychology. Often described as a state of deep immersion, high productivity, and blissful engagement, the flow state is becoming increasingly valued in modern societies that emphasize mindfulness and work-life balance.
Flow is a state of being where individuals become so absorbed in what they're doing that the rest of the world fades away. It is a psychological phenomenon popularized by Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 1970s, and is characterized by several attributes: intense concentration, a sense of timelessness, loss of self-consciousness, and a profound sense of intrinsic reward.
Flow can occur during a wide range of activities, from playing a musical instrument, writing, painting, to engaging in sports. It is in these moments of deep immersion that individuals often achieve their most exceptional performances, solve intricate problems, or produce their most creative ideas.
Esoteric Underpinnings of the Flow State
Although the concept of flow may seem a recent development, it is connected to ancient spiritual traditions and esoteric teachings.
At its core, flow can be seen as the secular version of numerous spiritual and mystical experiences recounted across cultures and throughout history.
Taoism and Wu Wei
In the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, the concept of Wu Wei is strikingly similar to the idea of flow. Wu Wei refers to "effortless action" or "non-doing," suggesting a state of being where an individual's actions are perfectly aligned with the Tao (the flow of the universe). In this state, actions are carried out seamlessly and with a sense of ease, reflecting a deep harmony with the world's rhythms.
Zen Buddhism and Mushin
Zen Buddhism offers another analog with its concept of Mushin, or the "mind without mind."
This notion is akin to the total absorption in activity experienced in a flow state. It refers to a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to everything. It aligns with the flow state's characteristic of losing one's self-consciousness and being fully present in the moment.
Hindu Philosophy and Dhyana
Hindu philosophy also contains concepts similar to flow, especially in the practice of Dhyana, a form of meditation leading to a state of profound stillness and concentration.
Like flow, Dhyana involves a complete immersion in the task at hand — an absorption so deep that the sense of a separate self dissolves.
The recurring theme of these spiritual concepts is that when you let go of attachment and the delusions of the ego, life becomes effortless. You flow with life’s currents instead of fighting against them which results in happiness, fulfillment, and inner peace.
Flourishing in the Flow State
To live in a constant flow state requires cultivation of an existence where periods of flow become more common. Immersion, creativity, and fulfillment must be prioritized.
A bridge between the mundane and the mystical.
To do this, we must live fully in the moment, discard all attachment to outcomes, and practice deep gratitude for everything that comes our way. This puts us on the proper frequency and state of mind to ride the currents of energy.
While the mainstream idea of flow state is mostly psychological (as in being very dialed into a specific task), true flow state is a metaphysical phenomenon that has to do with aligning oneself to the Tao, or the “way” - life’s currents.
At any given moment, there are numerous energy pathways (combinations of quantum potentiality) that are unfolding around us. Suffering often comes from fighting against these currents.
There is a certain harmony to life, a method to the madness. We think certain thoughts and perform certain actions, which create a predictable result based on the energy we have set in motion.
When we fight against these results, things become difficult. Doing one thing and then forming attachments to irrational outcomes is a recipe for suffering. Only when we fully accept our actions and our current reality can we change things the way we want.
Change isn’t created by hoping and wishing, but by doing. Of course, one cannot “do things” properly if deluded. Subscribing to a certain illogical worldview and not living in the present moment makes it impossible to change our current reality, and therefore the suffering continues.
So living in the moment and releasing attachment is the first necessary step.
The next would be appreciation for what is, and by proxy, gratitude for what will come your way, no matter what it is. There is a certain element of faith and even irrationality to this that can border on religious, but this is a proven mindset hack.
When you are thankful for what enters your life, you gain control over it. You have accepted reality for what it is, because the implication is, you made all of the choices that brought you here. The only healthy reaction to this is to be thankful.
Ingratitude toward what we manifest or draw into our lives creates mental and metaphysical disharmony. We are wholly responsible for where we are (whether we like it or not), and while this is a difficult concept for many of us to digest, it is nonetheless the reality. Fighting against this reality only weakens us, because it tells our subconscious that what we manifest is bad, and therefore we are manifesting incorrectly or shouldn’t be manifesting at all.
Flow state requires streamlined manifestation. There must be full acceptance of what is, which not only helps us see things in a healthier light, but encourages us to manifest freely.
The currents of energy we encounter vary in nature, so it’s important to be able to ride them equally well. Someone else’s energy, or past decisions that we have made that finally catch up to us, you never know when one of life’s little challenges will present itself. This is a growth catalyst, and if you are able to ride the energy, you will raise your vibration and become more powerful.
Don’t fight against life’s encounters. Accept, thank the universe for the challenge, and ask your Self, how can this best be navigated for a successful and abundant outcome?
Practice meditation. If you learn to hone your subtle senses, you can actually feel these currents of energy. Mystics and sages through the ages refer to “the winds of change,” omens, portents, and all manner of different signs, phases, and cycles. Reading and riding these cycles is part of what it means to be self-actualized. It is very possible to get to a point where you know the result of accepting an event vs fighting it, before you even make the conscious decision.
Take responsibility for the energy that enters your life by practicing strategic and conscious energy management. This is a fancy esoteric way of saying, ditch the toxic people in your life, get plenty of rest and sunlight, stay hydrated, eat high vibration foods, and hold a positive mindset. This way you reduce the chances of dealing with low vibration energy currents, which in turn increases your ability to maintain a high vibration flow state.
As you internalize this way of life and being, you will soon enter into a kind of constant flow state where things just tend to work out and life feels weightless. Challenges that seemed insurmountable before feel minuscule and even silly, you will wonder how you ever got bogged down with trivialities before, and it will be very difficult not to be happy and carefree.
This level of flow is inevitable once you shift your mindset, practice gratitude, and ride energy currents properly. It is why so many sages throughout history were depicted as these lighthearted whimsical souls that had a childlike essence to them.
The soul lightens once you realize many of life’s perceived problems are not problems at all, and are not really even worth a single thought or worry.
I understand that for those of us living in the trenches and dealing with a shitstorm of life’s challenges, it can be difficult to accept that life works this way. However I can speak from experience, not only in my own life, but in seeing this transformative process happen in others. It is simply the way life works.
By “caring” about what the ego perceives as a “problem,” you actually validate the problem, give it more energy, and associate with it, internalizing it as a part of your being. Doing so makes the problem seem like this massive issue, when in fact it is nothing.
The same task that one person will look at with dread, as if it is this huge burden, is met with joy and a light heart by someone who understands energy and has accepted life at face value.
Don’t write this off as a mere difference in opinion or perception. The way we view life plays a massive role in how we experience it. These two concepts cannot be separated.
Life is inherently meant to be experienced and accepted for what it is, without attachment over outcomes or forming emotional responses to arbitrary events or challenges. We certainly have the “choice” to live like this, but it is not how life was meant to be experienced. We know this because of the negative energy that this kind of mindset creates.
It is also why spiritual traditions from the beginning have preached gratitude, acceptance for what is, and the importance of living in the moment. Whether you prefer the Western model of prayer and giving your burdens to God, or the Eastern model of effortless action and no-mind, it effectively produces the same result. Living in the now and relieving the subconscious of erroneous perception.
The next time someone comments about how their life is a struggle and that nothing goes right, understand that they are operating from a low vibration of attachment and ingratitude. Use this knowledge to fuel your own journey and to inform others.
Life is full of challenges, this is true, but they are meant to be met head on and used for growth and personal evolution. Getting wrapped up in the whys and hows is pointless when we know all of this already. It’s all for us, it’s our doing. We’re here to live and to grow, not whine over why certain things are the way they are.
Embrace the beauty and chaos of life, accept what is and live in the moment, and you will discover your power.
Always remember, life awards no pity points or trophies for those who indulge in a negative mindset. The only reason why we engage in self-sabotaging behavior like this is to comfort our egos, nothing more. There is no practical reason to view life as some kind of struggle when it really isn’t. It’s silly defeatist behavior that doesn’t actually make things easier or help us in any way. Giving it up fast tracks you to a better life.
Great read as usual.
Like you said, it is definitely difficult when in the trenches of it but even then those "issues" are solvable with a different mindset. I am learning to adopt more gratitude into everything I experience. Good or "bad". It's a worthwhile exercise I have seen work time and time again from those around me.
Thanks for sharing this. I needed it! <3