How to Be in Flow (and not be Flaky)

Does your personality lend itself to structure – or a lack of order?

Left to my own devices, I thrive in completely unstructured environments, one of the reasons why the law was an awesome first career for me (teaching me the benefits of structure and order), and also why I am ultimately so much more fulfilled by my current work. Given the relationship between the moon and the flow of the tides, this is perhaps one of the reasons why I have so embraced lunar living- there does appear to be a strong resonance, don’t you feel?

I find that when I’m in flow, work becomes effortless. Being completely in flow can actually be incredibly effective, for example, when carrying out creative work (a whole chapter of my book can seemingly appear on a flow writing day, and you’ll often hear me saying OOO! how interesting!! as I read my words back); people seem to show up to help and give guidance, and life feels oh so good.

However one of the things that took me some time to master is how to be in flow, enjoy life – and not just float off somewhere into the ocean on a proverbial Monday afternoon when others are relying on me.

In other words- how to be in flow, and not be flaky?

It is gorgeous and wonderful to trust and surrender in that flow, especially when there are no concerns about paying rent or meeting deadlines or briefing team members or delivering on client agreements or replying to emails and just generally turning up when you say you will, and doing what you said you would, like a successful grown-up person.

Things happen, of course. Sometimes you are on a roll and you just need to keep on rolling! Your health and family and work responsibilities will also mean that you will sometimes need to cancel or be late or postpone, and everyone worth having in your life or professional sphere will be forgiving when you apologise and explain and make amends or whatever is appropriate given the situation.

But if you are habitually flaky, never respectful of others time, constantly late or not turning up at the right time – and if you constantly write it off as flow (or some variation of this, Mercury retro another fave), then you will quickly squander the goodwill of others.

Following through on your word is an expression of personal power.

The simple fact remains that if you are consistent and reliable, you will be way more effective, you will engender more trust, and you will keep the worthy clients, colleagues, peers and relationships that you have drawn into your life.

So finding how to be in flow whilst also being way to be in the flow and also be reliable is something to which I have tried to pay attention over time.

So, how?

Remember, Rivers flow between riverbanks.

Riverbanks help to direct and contain the flow of rivers – from their genesis, springing from a mountain trickle or emerging from underground – and shepherd the flow down to the ocean.

I have almost lost my footing a few times, when work and life responsibilities have increased. My business has had increasing numbers of different channels demanding attention – and I had plenty of other responsibilities outside of business as well.

Not to mention : I wanted to have fun.

This is what I see in so many of the high achieving women with whom I work. We end up spinning so many plates that the one that gets dropped is the one of JOY, nourishing ourselves and our SELF-CARE as we spin faster and faster, trying to get everything done.

The way that I brought back a sense of freedom and levity to my life by setting up my proverbial riverbanks, which helps establish a rhythm. I need to think about the first time and then roll with, checking back in every now and again to make sure that the structures are still operating effectively, reinforcing and rebuilding where necessary.

My metaphorical riverbanks give me that overarching structure

and in turn, these facilitate peace and calm even whilst my responsibilities continue to increase.

I don’t want to give the impression that I live and work in a state of perpetual equilibrium. That is not an accurate representation. However, what I have found is that by setting up the containers (the dreaded systems) that allow me to flow in the day-to-day, I am able to find flow, regularly, in the unstructured periods.

In the Lunar practice that I teach, this manifests through the yin and the yang phases – a process which I teach indepth in the Lunar Abundance Salon, and which I’m writing about in my forthcoming book – a way to embed into your life creative and linear thinking, as well as restoration and productivity (which don’t always exist in contradistinction, by the way).

In practical business terms, those unstructured periods are scheduled on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis.

Again: those unstructured periods are scheduled. Colour-coded, in my calendar, in amongst the more structured work.

This does not preclude space for serendipity,

Nor does it preclude magic, or flow that just happens spontaneously.

It is in the concept of riverbanks, a kind of freedom through discipline, that I am able to find flow on a regular basis – to allow space for creative flow, and fun flow! – and to ensure that I keep up with work and life, maintaining a semblance of peace.

Love,

Ezzie

You can find out more about my lunar practice and cultivating flow by signing up for your free mini-series here.

Do you find it difficult to move between creative flow and structure – or, left and right brain thinking? Has this article helped? What techniques do you find to be most helpful in your own life?

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