TRANSIENT HYPOFRONTALITY AND THE ZONE

Focal Point :  Transient Hypofrontality as a gateway to "flow" - an optimal state of being. 

What is ?
 
Transient  =  temporary
Hypo = Slower ( as opposed to hyper – more/faster )
Frontality  =  Prefrontal cortex – portion of the brain
Literally means  - a temporary slowing down of the prefrontal cortex , the executive seat of our brain.
 
The biological pathway to flow.
 
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) makes humans human.    While our base instincts may rave and rant , want to punch the noisy neighbour or the bloke that reversed into your new car ,  the common-sense PFC mediator convinces us with logic and sense that we shouldn’t. 
 

When the PFC slows down we greatly reduce  reasoning , second guessing , weighing options , deciding , planning …. and the present moment takes on a different hue.   One of  radiance and timelessness.   We lose ourselves in what we do , and to me , that is one of the greatest daily experiences.   
 
How ?
 
Tapping into altered states of consciousness , albeit “lower” states of consciousness , naturally.  ( Lower meaning higher in this case 😊 )
The art of peeling an onion.   Removing the unnecessary outer layers.
When a ship is sinking , luxury items get jettisoned first.  We retain only the essential.   No longer having the computational capacity to compute one from the other,  we become one with the other.  Calm and serenity prevails from being in the here and now.  We cease to overthink and worry about the unknown future , things we have no control over.
 
I am personally intrigued with the great contradiction of achieving optimal “flow” and “focus” -
Deactivating in order to activate ( the deeper self )  
Firing up the motor neurons in order to then sit still and be present. 
Resorting to routine and pattern recognition to develop automaticity. 
Silencing the inner critic while developing the sublime.
Consulting the instinct more than the intellect.  
Escaping from the Beta Buzz  to the Alpha-Theta zone (more about these in another vignette)  

Interruptions are the greatest enemy to flow and focus.  Hence uninterrupted time in that inspira-zone is most desirable  , as are planned DND sessions during the day or week.   Doing away with interruptions , shoring up attention as if it were a precious gem ( which I daresay it is) and not wasting any gold-dust in the form of attention-residue on needless things such as negativity , social media ,  silly distractions or situations you have no control over.

Robin Sharma portrays the concept of Transient Hypofrontality very simply in his book  “The 5am Club”  (diagram below) with special mention to the magical period between 5-6 am , when the world is either asleep or groggy.  Well BEFORE the day’s interruptions , obligations and challenges. 

​COROLLARY  -  ACTIVE MEDITATION   

Used to think that meditation was not for me.   In the traditional sense.   So wanted to calm my mind but couldn't.  Neither those noisy monkeys that chatter and confuse . Nor those highty- flighty butterflies that flit from thought to thought .   Unable to sit , lie down, gaze , lotus , ohm , thought-purge  ….. I resigned myself into thinking that this was too hard .  Total stillness puts a kind of pressure on me. Not sure what or why.   (Maybe this too is a discomfort zone I need to visit more often ? )   However when I’m active with simple repetitive tasks (preferably in solitude)  – gym routine , walking routine , gardening routine , yoga routine , cooking routine , housework routine  …… I find myself  quietening down and getting totally “in the zone”  .   Works so much better than stillness.  Remember someone saying that making early morning coffee , watching the kettle boil and the water steam , was her 5 minute morning meditation.  

And so I stumbled upon my own version of ACTIVE MEDITATION , and came to understand (without even realizing it)  that there are varying triggers to calm.   Doing anything repetitively builds automaticity ,  gives way to  deep thought and focus that surpasses the ordinary.    I’m learning that meditation and peace are not always found in the transcendent , but also in the practical.  My own creativity seems to peak around mid day , directly proportional to the degree of solitude and silent activity of the morning .  Ideas Flow. I’m ready to write / to learn / to work with keen attention …… A taste of  “Transient Hypofrontality” ? Post movement high ?  Dopamine OD ?  State of flow ? 
 
What are your flow triggers ?   What gets you in the zone  ?  
A walk in nature ? Extreme sport ? Pumping music?  …..   Do more of that. 

Don’t hesitate to post a sign on your door  that says :  
F*&^ OFF I’M FLOWING  
for as long as you need it. 
You’ll feel so great after !