It usually happens during a long run.
My legs are initially tight since it takes my muscles a little while to warm up. Yet as the road unravels before me, my stride lengthens, and my breathing settles into a rhythm. My shoulders drop, my arms relax, and each step transports me into my own little world. I feel at peace, totally connected to my body and the act of running. My thoughts slow down and become less chaotic as I’m filled with a sense of euphoric tranquility and thankfulness unto the Lord.
I used to dread my long runs. I hated how distracted my mind would become, flitting back and forth like a hummingbird between the scenery I was jogging past and the assignments I needed to get done.
But now, I look forward to the hour or so that I can be in the Lord’s presence and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Like clockwork, my body would feel light and strong every time I would lace up my shoes and set off down the street. Time seemed to slow down and speed up simultaneously, the minutes melting away even as the mileage climbed on my watch.
In a runner’s world, these feelings of serenity and strength are known as the “runner’s high.” However, I’ve never really felt like this label does the experience justice. The sensations I would encounter during my long run didn’t feel like a drug-induced haze, nor did they fade and leave me empty and depleted.
Therefore, I decided to dig a little deeper and see if there was a better way to define this experience.
While searching for insight, I stumbled upon an article by Bakker, Linden and Tops entitled “The Neuroscience of the Flow State: Involvement of the Locus Coeruleus Norepinephrine System” (2021). In this article, I learned that the euphoric sensations I was experiencing were ushering me into a “flow state of mind” (Bakker et al., 2021). The flow state is “often associated with athletes, artists, or scientists who are fully task-absorbed in order to achieve peak performance” (Bakker et al., 2021).
To me, the three main facets of the flow state are meaningfulness, focus, and gratitude.
When I run, I know I’m doing so for a purpose. I feel joy after a good, hard workout because I know I’m using God’s gift for a reason.
I also feel more focused and engaged in the task at hand. Time flies when you have clear goals and the space needed to pursue them.
Lastly, I’m filled with gratitude every time I get to step outside and challenge my limits. I feel at peace knowing that the Lord is running in step with me through every mile marker.
So now that you know what the flow state looks like for me, what does it look like for you?
You may not encounter it when you exercise, but you might experience these feelings while creating art, connecting with a friend, playing music, or pursuing a hobby.
No matter where these sensations find you, I pray they remind you of your purpose here on earth and always draw you closer to your Heavenly Father.
