Flow is the sweet spot, and it's the balance point between discipline and surrender.
When learning to play a new song on the piano, you practice the part of each hand individually, and then you put it together. We can approach mindfulness + meditation practices in the same way: practice with discipline, practice with surrender, and then let them merge in flow.
Discipline practices are about leadership
- Saying 'no' to the mind's typical way of running around
- Saying 'no' to the body seeking comfort
- Narrow or single-pointed focus
- Returning again and again to our object of focus
Surrender practices are about witnessing
- Saying 'yes' to what the mind and and body are doing
- Examining ourselves with curiosity and acceptance
- Open or soft focus
- Moving to where the attention is drawn
Once we have enough practice with discipline and surrender, our practice can move into a flow state:
- Acceptance has been established, so saying 'no' doesn't evoke self-rejection
- Concentration keeps us present, even as the attention moves about
- Single-pointed focus and open focus can happen simultaneously
- Both tethered + untethered at the same time