Have you ever experienced a time when everything seemed to fall into place? A time when you felt fully engaged, present in the moment, and your actions seemed to happen almost automatically? I’ve been calling this state of flow the “When Life Works” state.
When Life Works is a concept that refers to the experience of living in a state of flow where life feels effortless. People often experience this state of flow when doing something they enjoy and are good at, such as playing a sport, creating art, or solving a challenging problem. However, it’s possible to cultivate this state of mind in other areas of our lives, such as in our relationships, at work, or while pursuing personal goals.
About eight years ago, I would say that I experienced the first height of my “When Life Works” state. My business was just getting started, and things were moving at a decent pace. I was getting in the gym and working out roughly four times a week. Sometimes, I even got in a cross-training/cross-fit style workout on Sunday mornings. I was training myself to wake up at about 5:30/6 am and doing my very best to eat better, get enough sleep, live happier and enjoy life. I also managed to spend some quality time with family and friends. I was moving with no fear! Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed excited about the opportunities and the life I had in front of me. Every now and then, I would sit up for hours at night writing about plans I wanted to achieve. I would journal about my day and brainstorm things that I could do to make the next day better or, at the very least, as good as the previous day. Life, at that time, seemed to work.
“When Life Works ” refers to the experience of living in a state of flow where life feels effortless. “
Identifying When Life Works
To cultivate this state of flow and find fulfillment in our lives, we need to understand what conditions lead to When Life Works. One way to do this is to look back at times in our lives when we felt fulfilled and identify the conditions at that time. Throughout my life, there have been a few points where I can identify bits and pieces of great times I can draw from, where life just seemed to work. Now, I must admit, I got this “When Life Works” thing from Sean Stephenson, author of “Get Off Your Butt.” During an interview with Darren Hardy, owner of Success Magazine, Sean spoke about compiling a list of things that happened to you or that were going on “When Life Worked.”
Creating your own When Life Works list
To create your own When Life Works list, start by identifying a time in your life when you felt fulfilled. This could be a specific moment, a longer duration of time, or a general feeling. For example, you may remember a time when you were working out regularly, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep. You might have been traveling more often. Once you have identified this time, think about the conditions that were present at that time. Now, I know some people don’t like to look back on the past and would rather keep moving forward. I get that. But this particular type of looking back can be very helpful. For example, in both of the times I referred to the above, working out was a big part of when I was feeling good. So was being around friends and family. What were you doing? Who was around you? Where were you living? What activities were you involved in? What were your goals and aspirations at that time? Write down everything that comes to mind, and try to identify the five to ten things that were most important to your sense of fulfillment.
For example, here’s a look at what my WLW lists include:
- Working out regularly
- Eating healthy
- Getting enough sleep
- Waking up early and getting things done
- Spending quality time with friends and family
- Pursuing creative hobbies or interests
- Clearly writing out my goals/desires and having a plan to achieve them
- Having a support group/accountability group
Once you have created your list, try incorporating these conditions into your life as much as possible. This could mean signing up for that cooking class or setting aside some time to call a family member. The key is to identify the conditions that lead to When Life Works and create more of those conditions in your life.
Overcoming obstacles
Of course, life is not always easy, and there will be obstacles along the way. When we encounter obstacles, it can be easy for us to lose sight of our goals and feel discouraged. However, it’s important to remember that obstacles are a natural part of the process and that they can be overcome.
One way to overcome obstacles is to focus on our goals and values. When we are clear about what we want to achieve and why it is important to us, we can stay motivated and persistent when faced with challenges.
Another way to overcome obstacles is to seek support from others. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or professional, having someone to talk to and get advice from can be incredibly helpful when facing challenges.
Finally, it’s important to be kind to ourselves and practice self-care. When we feel stressed or overwhelmed, taking time to relax, exercise, or engage in a hobby can help us recharge and feel more focused and motivated.
Remember, obstacles are a natural part of the process, but with focus, we can overcome them.
The Importance of Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth and development. It involves being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they impact your life and the lives of those around you. When we are self-aware, we can better identify our strengths and weaknesses and make conscious choices about how we want to live our lives.
One way to cultivate self-awareness is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. When we practice mindfulness, we become more aware of our thoughts and feelings, and we can observe them without getting caught up in them.
Another way to cultivate self-awareness is to seek feedback from others. Feedback can help us identify blind spots and areas for improvement. However, it’s important to seek input from people who have our best interests at heart and will provide constructive criticism in a supportive way.
The Power of Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful tool for finding fulfillment in our lives. When we practice gratitude, we cultivate a sense of appreciation for the good things in our lives and become more aware of the positive aspects of our experiences.
One way to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down three things that you are grateful for. They can be big or small, but the key is to focus on the positive aspects of your life.
Another way to practice gratitude is to express appreciation to others. Take the time to thank the people in your life who have made a positive impact on you.
The Importance of Connection
Connection is a fundamental human need. I’m not saying that you need to have a huge 200+ list of people to be around all the time. However, when we are connected to others, we feel a sense of belonging and purpose and can better cope with the challenges that life throws our way. Even if it’s only a few people.
Personally, I like getting together with some of my friends or a few of my boys and just hanging out. Sometimes it’s a dinner or a grabbing lunch; other times, it’s putting together a photo/video shoot. Don’t have any friends? Join a community group or go to Meetup.com and find a group that shares your interests. A friend of mine joined one of those book clubs that meet once a week. You can even try volunteering! Join a gym. Fitness and friends! Being a part of a community can help us fill a part of something, and we can make meaningful connections.
Sometimes in life, we move forward in whatever we are doing, and we forget the things, or we stop doing the things that helped bring us balance, added a little more happiness, or just were plain fun. It’s good to return to moments when life just seemed to work and bring some of those times back!
So tell me, what were a few things that worked in your life? What practices, habits, or routines can you bring back? Grab a sheet of paper and start building your list!
