Atomic Habits

* I have a pet theory about what happens when we achieve a flow

state. This isn’t confirmed. It’s just my guess. Psychologists

commonly refer to the brain as operating in two modes: System 1

and System 2. System 1 is fast and instinctual. Generally speaking,

processes you can perform very quickly (like habits) are governed

by System 1. Meanwhile, System 2 controls thinking processes that

are more effortful and slow—like calculating the answer to a

difficult math problem. With regard to flow, I like to imagine

System 1 and System 2 as residing on opposite ends of the

spectrum of thinking. The more automatic a cognitive process is,

the more it slides toward the System 1 side of the spectrum. The

more effortful a task is, the more it slides toward System 2. Flow, I

believe, resides on the razor’s edge between System 1 and System

2. You are fully using all of your automatic and implicit knowledge

related to the task while also working hard to rise to a challenge

beyond your ability. Both brain modes are fully engaged. The

conscious and nonconscious are working perfectly in sync.