Flow
Enabling Your Genius with ATLA, Bruce Lee & The Art of War
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." ― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
We've all experienced those rare, divine moments. Moments when we feel intrinsically connected to our surroundings, our actions, the instrument in our hands, or the person beside us. It's as if something beyond our control is happening, yet we're fully present.
This is the flow state.
And it need not happen by chance.
In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Waterbenders embody this concept. They interact with energy, letting defense become an offense, turning opponents' forces against them. Their fluid movements mirror water's core principle - persisting through seamless adaptation. This philosophy echoes Sun Tzu's Art of War: avoid direct conflicts, and use adversaries' energy against them.
I’ve long admired the versatility of water. When I lived in the Bay Area, I’d stand near the cliffside and observe the waves weave through rocks and obstacles to get to the place they needed to reach.
Even the largest most impenetrable walls would be carved away in time. If it took a million years, water is patient.
Characteristics of Flow State:
Intense concentration on the present task
Merging of action and awareness
Loss of self-consciousness
Sense of control over the outcome
Altered perception of time
Intrinsic reward and fulfillment
We can slip into flow daily, but it isn't easy. Our long-term goals require consistent, routine practice. The day-to-day is full of distractions, opposing the flow state.
We should seek the flow state daily.
How does one willingly enter flow? We live in a civilization of countless options. We enter flow when we minimize unpredictability.
I once heard my favorite author, Neil Gaiman say that when he sits down to write, he gives himself two options. One is to write. The other is to stare out the window. And staring out the window tends to get boring, so he finds himself writing.
Limit the paths you can take.
"You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water into a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can pour and it can crash. Become like water, my friend."
- Bruce Lee
In essence, mastering flow means using the energy of what you face, consuming little of your own.
These principles indicate that it’s possible to enter the flow state more readily. Our daily practices can become moments of infinite potential.
**Manga panels read from right to left.
When we describe a genius in music, arts, or academics, we're really describing someone who's learned to get out of their own way.
Get out of your own way.
And slip into flow.
-Jonathan the Student of Water