How ‘flow state’ can heal trauma | Steven Kotler for Big Think

Summary

Steven Kotler discusses the concept of 'peak performance,' highlighting the state of 'flow' as a key to optimizing human consciousness for better performance and learning. He explains how flow, characterized by deep focus and absorption, can be used to treat conditions like PTSD and addiction by creating powerful, positive memories that override negative ones. This suggests a future where experiences may be prescribed as therapy.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The concept of 'peak performance' involves aligning our biology to work for us rather than against us.
• 🌟 'Flow' is described as an optimized state of consciousness where individuals feel and perform their best.
• 🔍 Flow is characterized by moments of intense focus and absorption, where everything else seems to disappear.
• 🧘‍♂️ In a state of flow, the sense of self and self-consciousness, including the inner critic, lessens.
• ⏳ Time perception in flow states is altered, with time seeming to pass strangely or slowly.
• 💡 Flow states are linked to increased learning due to the release of several important feel-good neurochemicals.
• 🔑 Positive memories are often associated with flow experiences, as they tend to be strongly remembered.
• 🩺 Flow has been researched for its potential in overriding and treating PTSD, with therapies combining talk therapy and activities like surfing.
• 🎢 The Army's use of surfing, an activity rich in flow triggers, has shown promise in reducing PTSD symptoms.
• 🍃 The treatment of addiction also sees the potential of flow, with rehab centers providing high-flow outdoor experiences for teenagers.
• ❤️ Flow experiences like skydiving could potentially help override negative memories associated with heartbreak or grief.

Q & A

What does Steven Kotler mean by 'peak performance'?

Steven Kotler defines 'peak performance' as the state where our biology works for us rather than against us, encompassing systems related to motivation, learning, creativity, and flow.

How does Kotler describe the state of 'flow'?

Kotler describes 'flow' as an optimized state of consciousness where individuals feel and perform their best, characterized by rapt attention, total absorption, and a diminished sense of self and self-consciousness.

What happens to one's sense of time in a state of flow?

In a state of flow, time appears to dilate or pass strangely, indicating a distortion in the perception of time due to the intense focus and immersion in the task at hand.

How does being in a flow state enhance learning?

Being in a flow state enhances learning because it is a powerful cocktail of several important feel-good neurochemicals produced by the brain, leading to stronger memories of events that occur during this state.

How has the concept of flow been applied to treat PTSD?

Flow has been used to override and rewrite PTSD by combining talk therapy with activities rich in flow triggers, such as surfing. This combination has been shown to significantly reduce or completely remove PTSD symptoms and decrease the need for medication.

What role does flow play in the treatment of addiction?

Flow plays a significant role in treating addiction by providing high-flow experiences, such as outdoor activities, which help to replace the neurochemical triggers associated with addiction and thus aid in the recovery process.

How might experiences be prescribed by doctors in the future?

In the future, doctors or psychologists might prescribe specific experiences, like skydiving, to help individuals overcome negative memories and emotional states, such as heartbreak, by creating more powerful, positive memories in a flow state.

Why are powerful positive experiences like skydiving suggested to override negative memories?

Powerful positive experiences like skydiving can create a strong, immediate deep-flow state that tends to override negative memories by producing a more potent neurochemical response, thus helping individuals to move past their previous emotional pain.

What is the significance of the neurochemical cocktail produced during flow?

The neurochemical cocktail produced during flow is significant because it consists of several important feel-good neurochemicals that contribute to enhanced well-being, memory formation, and the potential for therapeutic effects on various mental health conditions.

How does the concept of flow relate to Kotler's discussion on the treatment of emotional pain?

The concept of flow relates to the treatment of emotional pain by providing an alternative state of consciousness where negative memories and emotions can be overridden by the intense focus and positive neurochemicals associated with flow, thus aiding in recovery from heartbreak or grief.

What is the potential long-term impact of using flow experiences for therapeutic purposes?

The potential long-term impact of using flow experiences for therapeutic purposes could be a shift in how mental health treatments are approached, with a greater emphasis on activities and experiences that naturally induce flow states to address conditions like PTSD, addiction, and emotional trauma.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Understanding Peak Performance and Flow

The paragraph discusses the concept of 'peak performance' as a state where our biology works for us rather than against us. It delves into the systems underlying motivation, learning, creativity, and flow. 'Flow' is described as an optimized state of consciousness where individuals feel and perform their best, characterized by intense focus and total absorption in the task at hand. This state leads to the diminishing of self-consciousness and the perception of time dilation. The neurochemical cocktail produced during flow enhances learning and memory retention, with positive memories often stemming from such states. The paragraph also highlights the therapeutic potential of flow in treating PTSD and addiction, with examples of the Army using surfing combined with talk therapy and rehab centers providing outdoor high-flow experiences.

Keywords

💡Peak Performance

Peak performance refers to a state where individuals are able to optimize their biological systems to work in their favor, rather than against them. This concept is central to the video's theme, as it discusses how we can achieve our best performance through understanding and leveraging our biology. For instance, Steven Kotler mentions that peak performance is about getting our biology to work for us, which underlies the systems of motivation, learning, creativity, and flow.

💡Flow

Flow is an optimized state of consciousness where individuals experience intense focus and absorption in an activity, leading to a sense of fulfillment and peak performance. In the context of the video, flow is described as a state where action and awareness merge, self-consciousness diminishes, and time seems to pass strangely. The video provides an example of how flow can enhance learning due to the release of feel-good neurochemicals, making experiences in flow states more memorable.

💡Neurochemicals

Neurochemicals are chemical messengers in the brain that play a significant role in our emotions, cognition, and overall mental state. In the video, it is mentioned that flow states trigger a 'cocktail dump' of important feel-good neurochemicals, which contribute to the positive experiences and enhanced learning associated with flow. This concept is crucial as it explains the biological basis for the benefits of being in a flow state.

💡PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The video discusses how flow can be used in the treatment of PTSD, as the potent neurochemical release during flow experiences can override the strong memories associated with PTSD. An example given is the Army's use of a combination of talk therapy and surfing, an activity rich in flow triggers, to significantly reduce PTSD symptoms.

💡Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition, characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli or activities despite adverse consequences. In the video, it is mentioned that flow has been useful in treating addiction, with rehab centers providing outdoor high-flow experiences to help teenagers overcome drug addiction. This highlights the potential of using flow-inducing activities as therapeutic tools for addiction recovery.

💡Experiences

In the context of the video, experiences refer to the activities or events that trigger flow states and subsequently have a profound impact on an individual's mental state and memory. The video suggests that experiences, particularly those that induce flow, can be prescribed as a form of therapy in the future, as they have the potential to override negative memories and promote positive mental health.

💡Heartbreak

Heartbreak is a deep emotional pain associated with the end of a romantic relationship. The video uses heartbreak as an example of a negative memory that can be overridden through a powerful flow experience, such as skydiving. This illustrates the potential of flow experiences to reshape one's emotional state and provide a therapeutic effect in overcoming emotional challenges.

💡Cognitive Systems

Cognitive systems refer to the complex network of mental processes that underlie our thinking, learning, memory, and problem-solving. In the video, Steven Kotler discusses how peak performance involves understanding and leveraging these cognitive systems, particularly those related to motivation, learning, creativity, and flow. This highlights the importance of cognitive systems in achieving optimal performance and well-being.

💡Self-Criticism

Self-criticism is the tendency to judge oneself negatively, often leading to feelings of inadequacy and reduced self-esteem. In the video, it is mentioned that during a flow state, the inner critic or voice in one's head diminishes, allowing for a more positive and focused experience. This illustrates how flow can help individuals overcome self-critical thoughts and achieve a state of mental clarity and productivity.

💡Rapt Attention

Rapt attention is a state of deep concentration and focus on a particular task or activity. In the context of the video, it is a defining characteristic of the flow state, where individuals become so engrossed in what they are doing that everything else seems to disappear. Rapt attention is crucial for achieving peak performance and is a key element in the discussion of how flow enhances learning and productivity.

💡Total Absorption

Total absorption refers to the complete immersion in an activity or experience, where one's full attention is devoted to the task at hand. In the video, total absorption is described as a key aspect of the flow state, where individuals are so focused that their sense of self and self-consciousness are diminished. This concept is integral to understanding how flow allows individuals to perform at their best and achieve a heightened sense of well-being.

Highlights

Definition of 'peak performance' as getting our biology to work for us rather than against us.

The systems underlying motivation, learning, creativity, and flow are crucial for peak performance.

Flow is an optimized state of consciousness where individuals feel and perform their best.

During flow, moments of rapt attention and total absorption lead to a disappearance of distractions.

In a flow state, action and awareness merge, and self-consciousness diminishes.

Time dilation is a common experience in flow, meaning time seems to pass strangely.

Learning is enhanced in flow due to the release of important feel-good neurochemicals.

Memories formed during flow states tend to be more vivid and positively remembered.

Flow has been used to override and rewrite PTSD through talk therapy and surfing.

The Army's testing of surfing combined with talk therapy showed significant reduction in PTSD symptoms.

Flow experiences can lower or eliminate the need for medication in PTSD treatment.

Flow is useful in treating addiction, with rehab centers offering outdoor high-flow activities.

The future may see doctors or psychologists prescribing experiences based on neurochemical production.

Skydiving as a method to override heartbreak by producing a powerful deep-flow state.

The concept of using powerful experiences to override negative memories associated with loss.

The potential future where experiences are prescribed for emotional issues like heartbreak.

Transcripts

All right, are my feet in or out of the shot?

INTERVIEWER: It's a wide shot...

we're seeing your feet.

STEVEN KOTLER: Well, then you're gonna have to deal

with the ridiculous flip-flops, sorry about that.

When I talk about 'peak performance,'

I often define peak performance

as getting our biology to work for us

rather than against us.

What I'm really talking about are the systems

underneath what we call motivation,

learning, creativity, and flow.

And 'flow' is an optimized state of consciousness

where we feel our best and we perform our best.

More specifically, it refers to any of those moments

of rapt attention and total absorption.

You're so focused on the task at hand,

so focused on what you're doing,

everything else just seems to disappear.

Action and awareness are gonna start to merge,

your sense of self, sense of self-consciousness,

the voice in your head, your inner critic

are all gonna diminish.

Time is gonna dilate,

which is a fancy way of saying it's gonna pass strangely.

One of the reasons learning goes up so much in flow

is 'cause it's this huge, cocktail dump

of five or six of the most important feel-good

neurochemicals the brain can produce,

and we tend to remember things that happen in flow states.

In fact, for most people,

you're looking at positive memories, right,

things you're remembering that are really strong,

that are really locked into memory,

chances are they're things that took place in a flow state.

There has been a lot of work,

because of this very mechanism,

in using flow to override and rewrite PTSD.

The Army tested a combination of talk therapy and surfing.

Surfing is an experience that's packed with flow triggers.

Five weeks of surfing twice a week

and regular talk therapy sessions after the surf sessions

was enough to significantly reduce

or completely remove symptoms of PTSD,

and lower people's need for medication

or get them off medication completely.

PTSD is basically a very strong memory

that's been written and everything sort of flows back to it,

and flow seems to be able to override

that memory because it's such a potent neurochemical dump.

We know that flow has been very useful

in the treatment of addiction.

There are, for example, a number of rehab centers,

usually aimed at teenagers,

where to get kids off drugs,

they're taking them into the mountains

and giving them outdoor high-flow experiences.

Knowing what we now know about the way

that experiences can produce different neurochemicals,

it doesn't seem too odd that sometime in the future,

we're going to start to see doctors

or psychologists prescribing experiences.

I always tell my friends,

when their relationships end,

the easiest way to override heartbreak

is to go skydiving.

The problem with heartbreak or grief or all those things

is basically, every memory you have goes back

to the person you just lost, right?

That's why you walk through your house

and everything reminds you of the one that got away.

You actually have to override the memory.

You have to have an experience

that's more powerful than that.

Skydiving and the kind of immediate deep-flow state

it tends to produce in most people

will tend to override that.

I'm not saying we're gonna go to the doctor

for heartbreak and they're gonna prescribe skydiving-

but it would work.

And there might come a time in the future

where we actually think that way.