Three Intoxicating Flow Moments
….. Yep, They Made Me Smile
There are moments in life when time bends, the noise of the world fades, and everything becomes one seamless thread of pure focus and joy.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called these experiences “flow,” — moments so immersive and exhilarating that people will engage in them at all costs for the sheer sake of letting life rip.
Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism, offers its own lens on this phenomenon through the concept of Wu Wei, or “effortless action.” For as the story goes when you’re in flow, you’re not forcing the moment; you’re riding it like a wave, letting it carry you wherever it goes.
Reflecting on my life, I’ve encountered flow states that have been downright exhilarating and breathtaking. These moments, etched into my soul, reveal the magic of being fully present and engaged.
So allow me now to take you on a journey through my top three flow-state moments (in no particular order), where Taoist wisdom collides with sheer human joy.
💥 January 1, 1997: The Rose Bowl Victory and My Dad’s Spirit
The air in Pasadena was electric that day. My Ohio State Buckeyes were battling the Arizona State Sun Devils in what would become one of the most unforgettable games in college football history.
Just a few months earlier, I had lost my father, a man who had passed down to me his undying love for Ohio State football.
As the game unfolded, time ceased to exist. Every play felt like a lifetime, every cheer reverberating in my chest. Then, with seconds left on the clock, quarterback Joe Germaine threw a touchdown pass to David Boston, sealing our victory.
The crowd roared, but I felt something more profound— my father’s presence. I wasn’t just watching a game; I was transcending the grief of his loss. In that moment, flow wasn’t just about focus—it was about a deep connection that had never felt with another human being at that point.
💥 2002: The Birth of My Daughter Gwen
Flow isn’t always grandiose or loud. Sometimes it’s raw, vulnerable, and deeply human.
When my daughter Gwen was born in Carson City, Nevada, I found myself in a flow state of a different kind.
The hours blurred as I alternated between pacing nervously, holding her mother’s hand, and being transfixed by the miracle unfolding before me.
When Gwen finally entered the world, time stood still. I was consumed by a tidal wave of love and awe, fully present for her first breath, her first cry, her first moment on Earth. Flow, here, wasn’t about me—it was about surrendering to life’s greatest mystery.
💥 Seeing the Grand Canyon at Age 8
Flow states often arise from nature’s overwhelming beauty. At eight years old, during a family road trip from Ohio to California, I stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time.
The canyon’s vastness and vibrant colors rendered me speechless. I remember staring into its depths, feeling as though the universe itself had opened a portal to eternity. My mind, usually filled with childish chatter, was quiet. For those moments, I simply existed, connected to the Tao of the natural world.
The Science of Flow and the Tao of Wu Wei
Csikszentmihalyi described flow as the “optimal experience,” when challenge and skill align perfectly, and we lose ourselves in an activity. Taoism’s Wu Wei complements this idea: it teaches us to let go of striving and forcing, to move with the rhythm of life rather than against it.
In each of these experiences, I wasn’t trying to make anything happen. The magic unfolded because I let go of expectations and immersed myself in the moment. Flow and Wu Wei remind us that the greatest joys come not from control but from surrender.
A Call to Seek Flow
In a world obsessed with productivity and outcomes, we often forget the simple joys of being present. Flow isn’t just a psychological phenomenon or a Taoist ideal—it’s a way of living fully, a reminder that life’s greatest moments often come when we lose ourselves in them. Whether it’s a touchdown pass, a child’s first cry, a canyon’s majesty, or a night of passion, flow states invite us to savor the ride.
So, the next time you feel the pull of flow, surrender to it. Let it carry you, like a leaf on a river, to wherever the Tao intends.
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Much Love,
Diamond Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist
Good morning Diamond-Michael Scott. Many would scoff at Eastern thoughts such as flow. Your essay brought to mind Chicago’s 1972 song, Dialogue Parts I & 2. The lyrics chart a dialog between two friends. One, aware of the problems the World faces. The other, it would seem, blissfully ignorant.
A lyric from Part II mirrors your thoughts on how we might experience change: “We can make it happen
We can make it happen We can make it happen” It’s preceded by a few other “We can” ideas. “We can make it better.” “We can change the world.” “We can save the children.” With the Viet Nam war raging, America losing, this was the setting for preparing students for life in corporate America. We all lost.
I visited Csikszentmihalyi in his Chicago apartment in the 1980's for a story I contributed to a city magazine. I'm still worried about misspelling that last name. He was a kindly old man at the time, with eyebrows that flitted about like bird wings. I've been seeking Flow every day since then. I'm lucky that it locks in when I'm doing all sorts of things...watching Nikola Jokic do is thing for the Nuggets, sketching the furniture in my living room, cooking, writing, skiing, reading the Chocolate Taoist...