How to "Flow" Your Way to Success

(Napoleon Hill, James Allen)

Premise
Flow state, also known as being in the "zone," is
the mental state in which a person performing an
activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized
focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the
process of the activity. It is complete absorption
in what one does, resulting transformation in
one's sense of time.
Neurochemicals are all released in the
brain. Norepinephrine, dopamine,
serotonin, anandamide, and
endorphins.
Flow is the key to allowing the journey
to be as blissful as the destination.
1. Clear Goals at an abstract and granular level
Any definite chief aim that is deliberately fixed in the
mind and held there, with the determination to realize
it, finally saturates the entire subconscious mind until
it automatically influences the physical action of the
body toward the attainment of that purpose. -
Napoleon Hill
Definiteness of Purpose
A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his
heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make
this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It
may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a
worldly object, according to his nature at the time
being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his
thought-forces upon the object, which he has set
before him. - James Allen
2. There is immediate reporting and feedback
Qualitative and Quantitative KPIs
Reactivity vs Proactivity
Inner voice
Victories attained by right thought can only be
maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when
success is assured, and rapidly fall back into failure.
All achievements, whether in the business,
intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of
definitely directed thought, are governed by the same
law and are of the same method; the only difference
lies in the object of attainment. - James Allen
-#-
Elements of Flow
2. There is immediate reporting and feedback
Victories attained by right thought can only be
maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when
success is assured, and rapidly fall back into failure.
All achievements, whether in the business,
intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of
definitely directed thought, are governed by the same
law and are of the same method; the only difference
lies in the object of attainment. - James Allen
3. There is a balance between challenges and skills.
Evolve Beliefs and Assumptions within
Presence of mind
Intuition and mind are one.
Subconscious mind programs are revealed
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative
force: he who knows this is ready to become
something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of
wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who
does this has become the conscious and intelligent
wielder of his mental powers. - James Allen
QQS" formula - Napoleon Hill
4. Action and awareness become one
5. Distractions are excluded from consciousness.
Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal
him. - James Allen
Develop success consciousness and let your
subconscious do the work - Napoleon Hill
6. Fear of failure tapers away
INDECISION is the seedling of FEAR! Remember this,
as you read. Indecision crystalizes into DOUBT, the
two blend and become FEAR! The "blending" process
often is slow. This is one reason why these three
enemies are so dangerous. They germinate and grow

without their presence being observed. - Napoleon Hill

6 Basic fears
The fear of POVERTY
The fear of LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE
The fear of DEATH
The fear of CRITICISM
The fear of ILL HEALTH
The fear of OLD AGE
7. Self-consciousness disappears
In flow a person is challenged to do her best, and
must constantly improve her skills. At the time, they
don't have the opportunity to reflect on what this
means in terms of the self—if they did allow
themselves to become self-conscious, the experience
could not have been very deep.
That circumstances grow out of thought every man
knows who has for any length of time practised selfcontrol
and self-purification, for he will have noticed
that the alteration in his circumstances has been in
exact ratio with his altered mental condition. So true
is this that when a man earnestly applies himself to
remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift
and marked progress, he passes rapidly through a
succession of vicissitudes. -James Allen
-$-
8. Distortion of time
That circumstances grow out of thought every man
knows who has for any length of time practised selfcontrol
and self-purification, for he will have noticed
that the alteration in his circumstances has been in
exact ratio with his altered mental condition. So true
is this that when a man earnestly applies himself to
remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift
and marked progress, he passes rapidly through a
succession of vicissitudes. -James Allen
Success is not dependant of time, it can be based on
assumptions and beliefs about time. #
9. The activity and person becomes autotelic.
The key element of an optimal experience is that it is
an end in itself. Even if initially undertaken for other
reasons, the activity that consumes us becomes
intrinsically rewarding.
The traits that mark an autotelic
personality are most clearly revealed by
people who seem to enjoy situations that
ordinary persons would find unbearable.
Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how
quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.
- Napoleon Hill
-%-