Dr. Reed Shiraki
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Entries in flow (5)

Monday
Jan072013

Intuition and Flow

My brother, Ronn, wrote an interesting blog post last month:

http://graciejiujitsuhawaii.blogspot.com/2012/12/increasing-intuition-and-flow.html

...to train light and smooth with a giving and taking of positions. This is achieved by finding a perfect balance between waiting and acting such that flow is achieved: a flow-like dance between two individuals that will open up every possible movement and familiarize the user of this style of training to the myriad of situations otherwise unavailable.

It reminded me of a post I wrote about the "dance of the chiropractic adjustment" a few years ago.

Intuition and flow.  We chiropractors need more of this as we adjust and align and help others maximize their healing.

Friday
Apr082011

Multitasking

I used to pride myself as being an awesome mutitasker.  With the help of technology I can monitor my trades on the Forex and stock market, check my emails, eat breakfast, balance my checkbook, check my voicemail, read my friends' updates on Facebook, review my schedule for the day and text my wife... ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

Of course, this whole concept of mutitasking is a huge myth.  All of us can only do one thing at a time.  When we think we are caught up in some high-productivity whirlwind of multitasking we are, in fact, still doing things one thing at a time only switching our attention and efforts back and forth, here to there and everywhere among all our various jobs.

It's like getting a huge plate from the buffet line and then sitting down to nibble on this and that and then the next thing back to that thing and then the next after that.

It's a silly, stupid way to get things done.  The food gets eaten, but not savored.

Now I, who was once proud to be a multitasking king, am now seeking a better, simpler, more mindful way.

One thing at a time.  One thing holds my attention.  Then the next.  Then the next.

Of course, multitasking habits die hard.  As I write this, I am so tempted to switch Google Chrome tabs to play a fast game of Zuma Blitz.  But I resist.

Focusing on this blog post...

One thing at a time with focus, mindfulness, whole-heartedness is my new goal.  It's the only true way to flow.

It is the only true way to find joy in the work and in the now.

Wednesday
Jul162008

The Right Way to Adjust

John Wooden, the greatest collegiate basketball coach of all time, said this:

"Be quick, but don't hurry."

During my prime time adjusting hours, I must always remember this. Keep my mind focused enough, my heart calm enough, my hands in flow enough. . . to do this.

Without quickness, I disrespect my patients' time.

But by hurrying, I disrespect not just their time -- but their trust and their loyalty.

 

Monday
Jul092007

Flow

The following is pasted from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29

"Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing, characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Proposed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.

Many other terms and idioms exist for this mental state: to be on the ball, in the zone, in the groove.

As Csikszentmihalyi sees it, components of an experience of flow can be specifically enumerated; he presents the following:

  1. Clear goals (expectations and rules are discernible and goals are attainable and align appropriately with one's skill set and abilities).
  2. Concentrating and focusing, a high degree of concentration on a limited field of attention (a person engaged in the activity will have the opportunity to focus and to delve deeply into it).
  3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness, the merging of action and awareness.
  4. Distorted sense of time - one's subjective experience of time is altered.
  5. Direct and immediate feedback (successes and failures in the course of the activity are apparent, so that behavior can be adjusted as needed).
  6. Balance between ability level and challenge (the activity is neither too easy nor too difficult).
  7. A sense of personal control over the situation or activity.
  8. The activity is intrinsically rewarding, so there is an effortlessness of action.
  9. When in the flow state, people become absorbed in their activity, and focus of awareness is narrowed down to the activity itself, action awareness merging (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975. p.72).

Not all are needed for flow to be experienced."

Achieving flow in my life is a constant goal.  When I am adjusting patients, on the golf course, communicating with my family, or even playing a good game of chess, flow is what it's all about.

To me, flow equals joy.

And the antithesis of flow is that merging point where lack of a challenge meets poor aptitude.  This, repeated over and over, equates to a life of apathy.

Those that seek out the easy roads in life may come to know fun and pleasure, but they will never know of flow.

 

Tuesday
Jun052007

Adjusting Flow

My Dad's a general contractor.  He's built houses and made renovations for folks all over Oahu.  Since I was eight years old up until my job as a Summer Fun leader at the YMCA, most of my time when no mo' school was spent working for Pops.

My job duties began with sweeping sawdusty floors, rolling extension cords, and picking up scrap lumber.  As I got older, I was able to "get promoted" to shoveling dirt, wheelbarrowing cement, and hauling plywood.  My last years working for my dad allowed me to do some simple framing and finishing carpentry.

It was a sucky job.

The one thing, though, that seemed to get me through the day was the music coming from the radio.

Music made the day go faster, offered spurts of motivation when the right song came on, and would facilitate that flow of whatever task the old man had me doing at the time.

I find that even today, music is still a big part of my flow when I'm caring for patients.

The iPod is just the greatest!  There's about 400 songs on my playlist that I labled Adjusting Flow that I set to shuffle and run over the Bose all day.

The playlist is eclectic.  I don't want to settle into just one type of groove-- one rhythm, one genre.  For one patient, I may be adjusting with Crosby, Stills and Nash in the background and the next song to come on may be some Arrested Development.

I do have some new age, relaxation music mixed in, but honestly, those offices that play that type of Yanni-Enya stuff all day-- I don't know how they keep their eyes open and their minds alert.

I'm about ready to end this entry and get ready for the start of my day.  Before I jet, let me give you an Adjusting Flow example.

I'll turn the iPod on, hit "shuffle songs" and these are the first 10 songs coming out of the speakers:

  1. Juke Box Hero by Foreigner
  2. Carly Rose by Ka'au Crater Boys
  3. Honolulu City Lights by Kohala
  4. Sara Smile by Daryl Hall and John Oates
  5. Stand By Me by Ben E. King
  6. 3 A.M. Eternal by The KLF
  7. Bright Lights by Matchbox 20
  8. Constellations (featuring Jack Johnson) by Kaukahi
  9. Levon by Elton John
  10. Roam by The B-52's