Understanding Locus of Control and Its Influence on Your Flow State
As a Flow Science coach, I am often researching what factors contribute to entering a flow state - that productive and fulfilling state where one is fully immersed in what one is doing. Today I want to explore an intriguing psychological concept known as 'Locus of Control' and its direct impact on reaching this optimal state of flow.
Definition of Locus of Control
Psychotherapist Julian B. Rotter first coined the term 'Locus of Control" in 1954 to refer to how much people believe that they have control over events occurring in their lives, rather than external forces acting upon them.
Internal or External Locus of Control?
Locus of Control can generally be divided into two types, internal and external.
Internal Locus of Control: People with an elevated internal locus of control believe their behaviors, actions and decisions have an enormous influence over the results they achieve in life. They feel in control of their destiny and often demonstrate higher motivation levels to achieve their goals.
External Locus of Control: Individuals with an elevated external locus of control tend to attribute their successes or failures to external forces like luck, fate or others' actions rather than taking responsibility for what outcomes occur in their life. They perceive their actions have less of an impact than expected on outcomes they encounter.
Locus of Control and Flow State
How does locus of control relate to flow state?
Flow state (also referred to as being "in the zone") refers to a mental state whereby individuals experience intense focus, complete engagement, and pleasure while engaging in an activity.
Understanding that one's locus of control has an enormous influence on their ability to reach a flow state is of critical importance.
Individuals with an internal locus of control tend to experience flow states more frequently, likely because they have greater belief in their abilities to influence the outcomes of their tasks. They're more likely to embrace challenges, push through setbacks, and see effort as a path towards mastery - all essential components for reaching flow states.
People with an external locus of control often struggle to achieve a flow state. If your actions don't seem to have much of an effect on outcomes, developing the intense focus and resilience required for reaching flow can be challenging.
Exploiting Internal Locus of Control
Locus of control isn't fixed; it can change over time. If your current locus of control tends towards external, practicing mindfulness, setting and reaching small goals, seeking feedback, and gradually taking responsibility for actions can all help shift that over time.
By shifting the locus of control within yourself, you should find it easier to enter a flow state - and as more often you enter it, the more productive, satisfied, and fulfilled you'll feel in both personal and professional endeavors.
Remember, the journey toward increasing internal locus of control and more frequent flow states may not always be smooth sailing, but its rewards make the effort worthwhile.