Supercharge Your Impact On The World

When we’re in our flow, we’re doing our best work. But did you know that you are capable of so much more when you leverage your flow state with your gifts?

(If you missed last week’s post on how to use your gifts to save the world, check it out here.)

What is Flow?

Flow is reaching that amazing state of consciousness where you feel strong and confident and performing at your best. Some researchers call it the optimal state of consciousness. I’m sure you’ve said, “I was in the zone.” Or, “I was in the groove.”

Athletes, musicians, speakers, business people, painters, and writers all talk about being “in the zone” when they’re working at peak performance. They’re so intensely focused on the task at hand that time and everything else around them disappears from present reality.

When you’re in a state of flow time literally flies. Your focus is laser sharp. Solving problems becomes easier, and you crush one task and then jump to the next.

That’s why they call it flow.

How do I access Flow?

Neuroscientists have studied how we can purposefully enter a state of flow. They’ve come-up with all sorts of conditions and pre-conditions called “triggers”.

I found the triggers identified by global management consulting firm McKinsey’s & Co.’s ‘Meaning Quotient‘ spot-on with my own experience.

Here are the key triggers that the Meaning Quotient measures:

• High stakes/risk
• Excitement
• A challenge and,
• Something that you feel matters, will make a difference, and hasn’t been done before.

When you marry these triggers with your gifts, you’ll supercharge your ability to accomplish what you’re called to do!

Think about it. When you’re using your gifts:

• They’re natural to you
• They’re what make you special, and
• They’re given to you so that you can make a difference in the world…

“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.” 1 Cor 12:31 NLT

Gifts are a part of who you are. It’s common sense that when you use your gifts for a meaningful purpose, you’ll have more physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual energy. The research shows that you’ll be able to accomplish more than what you ever thought possible.

Be Wise & Successful…

A decade long study of over 5,000 executives conducted by McKinsey & Co. indicated that a 20 percent increase in flow could nearly double workplace productivity. Isn’t that something we should strive for so that we can maximize our impact on the world?!

1. Flow is available to everyone. We all have the ability to be in the zone when we pursue certain triggers. Write down a time when you were in the zone. Were any of the Meaning Quotient triggers present? Which triggers ones were present? Were you using any of your gifts at the same time?

2. Use your gifts in a meaningful way. Your gifts are meant to be used, to be shared and put into action. Spend 10 minutes thinking about a purpose or calling that you’ve dreamt about accomplishing that will activate the Meaning Quotient triggers. Next, think about how you can leverage your gifts to pursue that purpose.

3. Use your gifts, get into the flow and be happier. Psychologist Mihaly Csikzentmihaly has done pioneering work in connecting flow and happiness. Watch this TED talk where he claims that flow is the secret to happiness.

When you use your gifts, everybody wins; but in all honesty, you win the most.

In my next post I’ll share my story – how I ended my desperate search for a meaningful purpose as I stumbled onto an opportunity to use my gifts.