Flow state
‘Flow state’ is a common term I see floating around recently. It means ‘to be in a state of complete focus, full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity’ (I Google’d that). Doing something, anything, in which you have a genuine passion for, you often find yourself in a flow state. It’s a very powerful space to be in, even when we are doing the most miniscule task. Sometimes you might not even notice being in the zone because you become so immersed in it. It’s a beautiful thing and what’s even more beautiful is seeing someone in that zone. I’ll give you a couple of examples. Every morning, I prepare and brew my coffee, all of which takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the type of brew I’m feeling that day. But in those five to ten minutes, I think of nothing else other than brewing my coffee. After I finish, I just listen to the lofi music or whichever podcast is playing in the background, enjoying the flavours, aromas and textures of the cup of brew I made. Nothing more, nothing less. Just as is.
Another example is when I visit a local coffee shop, I stand nearby the bar or counter - one because I’m nosy and two, I love seeing baristas behind the scenes. I absolutely love the sound of the coffee grinder, the espresso machine pulling shots and the milk being frothed. I also love the attention in which the baristas put in to make you the best coffee as possible. Now, with the pandemic around, staff still have to wear face masks to keep themselves and customers safe so you don’t see much of their face. But, pay close attention to their eyes - laser-focused. They tap the pitcher on the table to pop any bubbles in the milk and then proceed to pour it into your cup of coffee. Not a single blink and if you look closely enough, you see a little spark in their eye when they’ve nailed that latte art. I personally don’t mind whether the art is perfect or not, but you can see and feel the barista’s effort when they try.
It might not be the most obvious thing to notice, especially when you order your coffee, wait at your table until the staff brings you your cup of coffee. Give it a try next time you visit your local coffee shop, have a look and check out the baristas at work. If you’re into coffee, you might be interested in what goes on behind the scenes.
