The Space Between The Notes
Have you ever wondered what you are really capable of? Whether it is an academic pursuit, physical activity or a work pursuit, have you ever wondered what your real potential is?
We often hear about amazing feats performed by humans. Things like mothers lifting cars off their children, walking on the moon or breaking the two-hour marathon barrier are examples of incredible human achievement.
People who perform these incredible feats often describe a state of being like no other. Some call it being in the zone, others call in being in a flow state. Regardless of what it is called, when reached, it takes one to a whole new level of possibility.
Being in the zone is a state athletes strive for. When in the zone, you feel as if time stands still and every sense heightened. Concentration levels max out and you become one with the moment. However, being in the zone is a hard place to reach.
The Impossible First
I recently read Colin O’Brady’s book, The Impossible First. O’Brady holds the record for the fastest summiting of the highest peak on seven continents and the two poles. The book details his attempt to become the first person to complete an unsupported crossing of Antarctica. Many people have failed attempting the 932-mile journey, giving it the impossible label.
One of the interesting things about O’Brady’s story is how his record-setting attempt turned into a race. As O’Brady completed his preparations, he discovered another explorer was getting ready as well.
As one who followed both expeditions, it was fun tracking their race across the ice. Each explorer had a live GPS feed on their website and posted regular updates from the ice. Progress was slow, with each pulling a sled weighing over 300 pounds for up to 12 hours each day.
One thing he often talked about was achieving a flow state. He mentioned how he often came close to it on white-out days. White-out days deprived him of most of his senses, allowing him to explore the recesses of his mind. What he discovered was an ability to recall very vivid memories of events from almost any point in his life. As he dove deeper into his mind, he realized an improvement in his physical performance.
This enhanced performance was on full display during his final push to the finish. With almost 78 miles left to complete the trek, O’Brady decided to test his mental and physical limits. As he started out on what would be his final day, he felt strong and the conditions were right.
After the first 12 hours, he began to feel like he had never felt before. His mind and body were one. They connected in a way that allowed him to push forward without the typical signs of fatigue or concern. As a storm rose around him, he pushed forward, feeling as if he was one with the storm. For once, the swirling winds and snow seemed to pick him up and help him rather than fighting his every step.
As he pushed on he began to sense the power of those around the world wishing him well. He had tapped into that energy and entered a flow state, allowing him to complete the final push in 32 hours.
“Music Is The Space Between The Notes” — Claude Debussy
Looking back through his journey, one of the things that helped him tap into this flow state was a conversation he had with musician Paul Simon. In the conversation, they talked about how music is the space between the notes.
Simon was curious to see if O’Brady had found that space as he traveled through the emptiness. O’Brady said that it was exploring that space that helped him tap into the flow state and reach his goal.
Finding My Flow
As I finished the book, I wondered what it is that prevents individuals from finding their own flow state. As I looked at my own life I began to see clues that would help me find that elusive state. I found most of them when I looked into my writing patterns.
There have been times when writing a 1,000-word article takes hours. Then, there are times when it feels like I can’t type fast enough and I’m done in thirty minutes. Examining the differences in the writing experiences, I noticed three things contributing to my flow state.
1 — Preparation
The first thing is the amount of thought and preparation I put into an article. Articles where I spend a few days reading and ponding the subject, go quickly. Without this pre-work, I struggled.
The thinking time helped because I was able to let my subconscious mind work on the problem and create a path.
2 — Practice
Next, the ease of my writing was proportionate to the amount of writing practice I had been doing. When I was consistent with my daily writing routine, it was easier to reach the flow state.
Like O’Brady pulling his sled for days on end, the daily writing habit helped remove some of the physical focus and let my mind go.
3 — Environment
The final thing contributing to my flow state was my environment. Regardless of where I was at, being able to shut out the environment around me helped me focus on my thoughts.
Once that happened, the writing just flowed. For me, I can block out the environment by putting on headphones and listening to the same playlist every time.
By listening to the same playlist, I begin to lose myself in the space between the notes. I find my mind not focusing on the music, but on the emotions the music evokes. This change in focus frees my mind and allows my thoughts to flow.
Once I realized what the key factors were, I began experimenting with them in different areas. I discovered how challenging it is to reach that peak state. Often I felt like something was holding me back. While I had been able to improve my performance, I hadn’t completely unlocked how to reach the peak state.
The Missing Piece
In the book The Alchemist, I found the missing piece to the flow puzzle. The author’s statement was a key element in being able to hear the music between the notes. The statement is, “Before a dream is realized, the soul of the world tests everything that was learned along the way.” This is the final and most important key to unlocking one’s flow state.
For O’Brady, he had to pass through almost 60 days of tests and trials to reach that magical state. These trials allowed him to clear his mind and unite his mind and body into one purpose. This didn’t happen until he allowed his adversities to pass through him and change him.
Once he began to change, he began to unlock the power of his mind. So it is with the rest of us. We have to pass through the furnace of affliction to understand how to tap into our true strength.
Looking back at my times of trial and struggle it is easy to see how they have shaped me. They helped me begin to understand what I am capable of.
Viewing my trials with this perspective, I have come to appreciate them. I now try to approach them with a quieter mind and a more open heart. With these changes, I can feel a difference in myself. This difference has brought me closer to finding access to my own flow state.
Now I have to continue to practice and apply the lessons learned. But, I hope I don’t have to spend 60 days alone on the ice to fully understand it.
Jeff Hough
Co-Founder — The Personal Alchemy Project
