It has taken me a long time to realize that in order to achieve and find joy and balance in life, we must become masters of being in the zone. Having never been involved in sports, except as a fan, I’ve never personally experienced this phenomenon on the playing field. As a sports Mom, however, I have come to understand the expression.
Being in the zone is the pinnacle for an athlete. It is that moment of time in which everything comes together, the training, the talent, the discipline and the passion. It is a moment of magic when normalcy is transcended. It is as though time has slowed. It is as though things have begun to flow.
As proposed by Mih¡ly Cskszentmih¡lyi, this flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.
According to Cskszentmih¡lyi, flow is completely focused motivation. It is a single-minded immersion and represents perhaps the ultimate in harnessing the emotions in the service of performing and learning. In flow the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand.
We must become focused on enjoying the moments. We must take the time to “do one thing, do it very well and then move on.”
This is a favorite expression of my “amour de ma vie” who follows his own advice by giving the utmost attention to whatever task he is involved in and lives his life as though each moment he is in is his last. He takes the time to treat everyone with courtesy and respect and tries to make everyone feel special and happy.
Because of knowing him I am learning to live in the here and now and to enjoy the time it takes to experience, while tasting, savoring, exploring and thoroughly applying myself to the task at hand. This principal applies to life as a whole. It means being awake and aware and consciously involving myself in life’s activities because it is these life experiences that are most important. It is these that make up our memories and our lives.
I am learning to reevaluate the priorities in life by adjusting my thinking concerning what is most important in life. I am trying to make a distinction between the things that give me joy internally and the things that are a part of our external world. With this thought process it is important to decide for ourselves if it is more important for us to receive joy from within or the praise and admiration of others. Why is it that we spend so much energy hoping to receive accalades from others instead of directing our own play and setting the stage ourselves? It is so much more important, in my mind, to feel confident and secure with myself than to depend on the opinions of others.
We have been given the opportunity to live our lives exactly as we see fit, to set our own goals, choose our own directions and involve ourselves in the things that interest us.
I am learning, through the love of my life, a master at living life to the fullest, to love myself, to set my own goals, to find joy in the task at hand, to listen to my heart and to strive for inner peace. Though this may be a long journey, I am on the right path and am excited about the journey ahead. I am doing what I love and living life on my terms.
Oh my, what a great adventure!
Be happy in the now. Remember the childhood exhilaration of just being? Remember spending time with nothing but your imagination to keep you comfortable? Come with the enthusiasm and belief of a child and you will find your inner joy.
