Is Social Media Destroying Your Ability to Focus? Flow Researchers Explain | Ep. 286

Mike Csikszentmihalyi discovered flow by asking a simple question: Why do some people bounce back from adversity while others don't? Gary and Deanne Gute work directly in his legacy, and they say there's a specific anatomy to flow that almost nobody talks about. Miss that piece, and no amount of productivity hacking will get you there.

Where Flow Came From: In the late 60s and early 70s, Mike interviewed people about their most engaged moments. They all described it the same way—like being carried away by a current. That's where "flow" came from.

The Real Anatomy: Clear goals. Immediate feedback. Challenge matched to skill. But here's what people miss: freedom from self-consciousness. Social media is basically a self-consciousness machine—you're constantly alert to how you're being judged. That kills flow.

It's Not About the Goal: Deanne ended up in the hospital with COVID pneumonia. Her one job was getting her breath under control or die. One goal, immediate feedback (oxygen machine), matched challenge. Looking back, she found it oddly satisfying because it was pure flow. It wasn't about winning—it was about the experience.

Challenge and Enjoyment Are One: Our culture treats them as opposites. But flow merges them. Kobe Bryant found bliss in 4 AM practice sessions—the squeak of the floor, the whoosh of the basket. Define enjoyment for yourself, not what social media tells you.

Ritual Primes You: Their research on rock climbers shows that pre-climb rituals—breath work, imagery, mindfulness—lead to significantly more flow than just showing up. Flow comes to a prepared mind.

Flow and Resilience: They've studied trauma survivors, combat veterans with PTSD, chronic pain patients. Flow isn't about productivity. It's about flourishing in your worst moments and actually growing from adversity.

Mentioned

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow 

Connect with Deanne and Gary

• Flow Channel Foundation: TheFlowChannelFoundation.org
• Upcoming Podcast: Cheating Chaos
• Gary's TEDx: Flow for Good (YouTube)
• Facebook: @TheFlowChannelOfficial

Connect with me:

• • Email: support@plangoalplan.com
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  • Website: PlanGoalPlan.com
  • LinkedIn: (I post most here!) www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcgeough-phd-🗓️-b673334

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