Finding Your Flow State

52 Weeks of Freedom - Week 7

This yearlong weekly journey is designed to help you break free from what I call the porn prison - a state of mental, emotional, and spiritual confinement caused by porn consumption. This prison traps individuals in cycles of shame, isolation, and disconnection, making it difficult to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Each Friday for the full year of 2025, I’ll dive into a key aspect of recovery, provide practical tools, and challenge you to take meaningful steps toward lasting freedom. Whether you’re just starting your journey or already working toward healing, this series offers encouragement, clarity, and structure to help you build and sustain a new, liberated identity.

Finding Your Flow State

As you head into your weekend and next week, focus on finding your flow.

“Flow State” is a buzzword in the self-improvement community and it is for good reason.

I love the phrase.

But what does it really mean?

The term "flow" was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who described it as a mental state of complete immersion and focus. When you're in flow, you're not thinking about anything other than the task at hand. Time seems to disappear, and you feel deeply connected to the moment.

What does it mean to me?

It’s to be in a state of mind where you are completely in the present and blissfully blank.

You are focused on the flow of the moment.

For example:

When I fly fish in a beautiful mountain stream, its easy for me to get into my flow state.

The stresses and anxieties of the world slowly fall off me and float down that river and my focus goes to the moment.

As I cast upstream with my fly, my focus is only on the line and if I see or feel movement.

I’m in the moment.

I’m doing something I love. I’m doing something that brings me bliss.

Like the river and the fish within it,

I am going with the flow.

The instant that the fish strikes and the line tightens, I am right there with it.

It’s almost like I am a part of the river, a part of the natural order.

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Now think if I was not in the moment at that time?

What if I was thinking of porn?

The elation of the catch and the wonder of my natural surroundings would be dulled.

The otherwise sweet bite of excitement instead a bitter taste of regret lingering on my taste buds.

That sounds sad because it is.

I’ve been there before.

It’s not a great place to be.

What should be your safe place becomes your prison.

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Reclaim what is sacred to you.

As you move through today and this weekend, think about what hobby or passion gets you into this “flow state”.

If you can’t partake in that this weekend, set some time up for it in the future and plan for it.

As I’ve touched on before, this journey of living porn free is not just about being sober, it’s much more than that.

This journey is about actually being on a journey and being present in that journey.

This is about you reconnecting to what you love to do vs avoiding porn.

When you are in your flow state, porn knows it has no place in this hallowed place and the temptations will wither away into the darkness.

Reclaim your flow state!

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The Flow Formula: Making Time for What Matters Most

Whether it’s a hobby, passion project, or something you’ve always wanted to pursue, getting into a flow state can be one of the most fulfilling and productive experiences.

But how can you make more time for these activities? And how do you prioritize them when life seems to constantly demand your attention?

Let’s start by building a list of what really gets you into flow using the Flow Formula.

1. Make a List of Your Flow Activities
Think back to the moments where you were so absorbed in something that hours felt like minutes. What were you doing? Was it writing, painting, hiking, problem-solving, or connecting with others? These activities, whether big or small, are your gateway to deeper fulfillment and personal growth.

Write them down.

For example:

• Creating content

• Working on a side project

• Exercising or being outdoors

• Reading or learning new skills

• Volunteering or helping others

2. Prioritize Based on Impact
Now, take a look at your list and ask yourself: Which of these activities energize me? Which one or two would have the biggest impact on my life right now?

• Which ones do I want to spend more time on?

• Which ones align with my values, goals, or sense of purpose?

• Which ones do I consistently look forward to doing?

This is the first step in identifying which activities deserve your time and focus.

3. Assess the Time Commitment
The next thing to consider is how much time each activity requires. Does it fit into your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule? Getting into flow can be as short as a 10-minute burst of inspiration or as long as a multi-hour project. Here’s a simple way to assess:

• Daily Flow Activities: These are the habits you can easily fit into your routine. They could be writing for 30 minutes, doing a morning workout, or reading a chapter in a book.

• Weekly Flow Activities: These require more time but can still be integrated regularly. Maybe it’s dedicating a couple of hours each week to a passion project or spending a Saturday morning volunteering.

• Monthly/Quarterly Flow Activities: These are big, deep dives that require more planning, like tackling a major milestone in a side hustle, a creative project, or an outdoor adventure. They might only happen once or twice a month but are essential for long-term personal satisfaction.

4. Block Time for Flow
Once you've prioritized, the key to making flow a regular part of your life is intentionally blocking out time. It’s easy for life to fill up with distractions and obligations, so you have to claim space for the activities that matter. Put them in your calendar, set reminders, and treat them with the same importance as any meeting or task.

For example:

• Daily: Spend 15 minutes journaling or reading before bed.

• Weekly: Dedicate two hours on the weekend to working on a personal project.

• Monthly: Plan a day trip to get outdoors and recharge.

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This Week’s Challenge: The Flow Experiment

This week, commit to trying something new that could potentially lead you into flow.

Here’s how: