Flow

One of the most impactful presentations at the 2022 LSP® Global Meeting was given by the guest speaker, Hans Henrik Knoop. He is a professor at Optentia Research Focus (South Africa) and Aarhus University (Denmark), and also a former colleague of Robert Rasmussen.

Economy of Distraction

In his lecture "Flow as a Key Life-Quality," Hans talked about concentration, optimal experience, and the economy of distraction. He explained how the battle for our attention and control of our experiences is prevalent in today's world, creating a cycle of lack and motivation to satisfy the need. According to him, we are born optimized for concentration, not for distraction. However, the way most of us live today doesn't prioritize this state, as we are exposed to numerous stimuli simultaneously and constantly.

It's no wonder that we live in exhaustion and anxiety. Brazil is the most anxious country in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2019, almost 10% of Brazilians were living with the disorder. According to Hans, curiosity is the antidote to this state and helps heal past traumas. I believe that curiosity plays a fundamental role in people's quality of life, and it was powerful to see an authority on the subject reinforce one of Maestrina's pillars.

Playing and Flow

The second contribution I would like to highlight is about concentration during play and games. Hans Henrik Knoop said that it's necessary to make an effort to play and engage in games effortlessly. Yes, to enter the delightful state of flow, a little effort is required. He mentioned that it's the commitment that leads to pleasure and flow.

According to the Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the state of flow occurs when we are completely absorbed in an activity to the point where we lose ourselves in the joy that comes from doing it. In his presentation, Hans commented that when we reach the state of flow, we don't feel pain or anxiety, and curiosity serves as an antidote to anxiety. However, one must persist during the initial phase of the process to achieve this state of high performance and functionality.

Playing and engaging in games are efficient ways to train the skill of flowing since it's impossible to play without being concentrated. Despite the adult world, especially the corporate environment, discouraging play and games, we would greatly benefit from this approach to reach our highest potentials and significantly improve our quality of life.

For Hans, free play is indispensable because that's how we – as mammals – are constituted. Just like flow is our natural state, it is psychologically sustainable. You only need to look at a child to notice how they naturally enter a state of fluidity during their interactions with the environment.

Childhood

The third point that caught my attention is about childhood. Hans talked about how children born in cities don't go out to explore their surroundings like those in rural areas do. The professor mentioned that feeling safe is necessary for exploration. I've been reflecting on the potential impacts this can generate.

Curiosity is a very visible characteristic in children; you can see how it permeates every interaction of the little ones. Through experimentation, they learn about themselves, others, and the world, forming the repertoire that will guide them in future actions. Freedom and exposure to a diversity of stimuli and experiences will enrich the individual's knowledge base. Security plays a fundamental role not only in a child's physical integrity but also in their learning process. When we don't feel safe in a situation, our brain goes into alert mode, prioritizing defense mechanisms and blocking channels involved in the learning process. Thus, it becomes challenging to learn when we are in situations of insecurity, coercion, and violence.

Considering the current organization of cities and people's lifestyles, we can see how this configuration negatively impacts children's lives. There is not enough safety and freedom to explore the surroundings, experience things on their own, and stimulate their innate curiosity. Consequently, their repertoires become impoverished and limited, and their cognitive, social, and emotional development is compromised. The feeling of insecurity and lack of freedom perpetuates through yet another generation.

Metaphors

The penultimate reflection I want to share from Hans Henrik's presentation revolves around the metaphors of the driver and nature. According to him, we are all born as drivers, not passengers, of our own lives. The fundamental skills we should develop to live well are knowing when to accelerate and when to brake (self-regulation for growth) and how to turn right and left (self-regulation for balance).

Hans believes that through the ability to self-regulate for growth and balance, we would achieve a life of physical well-being, positive emotions, commitment, meaning, and belonging. From there, we would be driven to explore our curiosity and take action in the world. This would lead us to access creativity and learning, resulting in personal success in these areas, which would then fuel the desire to create and learn more, motivating a new cycle of curiosity and the need to act.

Font: Maestrina from Hans H. Knoop

According to Hans, this sequence is the foundation for a fulfilling and meaningful life. He reminds us that flourishing comes from within in nature, and that is its true beauty. Likewise, it is the same for humans; they cannot do anything without meaning and without a clear intention and deep motivation within themselves. According to the professor, flourishing is the metaphor for a good life.

How to Return to Flow

The final reflection I want to recall from Hans' powerful presentation is about flow and how it relates to people's quality of life. The state of flow lies between the level of challenge and the person's competence. It is within this range that we find flow, playfulness, learning, creativity, and good work. It is the natural state of human beings and represents an optimal way of functioning.

Font: Maestrina from Hans H. Knoop

If we face a challenge that is too high and have low competence, it generates anxiety. We are well aware that in this situation, our brain alerts us that we are in danger and sets off loud alarms. To return to the state of flow, a priority is to lower expectations about the task and gradually progress through the work. On the other hand, when the challenge is low and competence is high, we encounter boredom. In some prolonged cases, this boredom can lead to depression and a sense of purposelessness. Here, the priority is to increase challenges gradually and significantly as a strategy to return to the state of flow.

It is impossible to remain in flow continuously; we exit this state many times throughout the day. However, we can learn to return to it. I believe this is one of the most significant contributions from Hans' presentation. To conclude, let me recap the lessons learned from Hans in this opportunity:

• We are born optimized for concentration, not for distraction.

• Playing is indispensable, and we need to make an effort to play and engage effortlessly.

• Free exploration is powerful, and feeling safe is necessary to engage in it.

• We are the drivers of our lives and need to know how to self-regulate to achieve a meaningful life.

• Human flourishing comes from within, just like nature, and that is its true beauty.

• The state of flow is natural for human beings.

"Flow is at the center and relates to everything. It is the sustainable psychological state and a key piece for quality of life." - Hans Henrik Knoop