Deactivate to Activate Your Subconscious Mind: Getting into the Zone

The majority of us have hunted for optimal performance in an effort to excel in our fields. Once discovered, it is like trying to hold onto a slippery fish! But the sense of ease that comes with acting like a superhuman is so compelling that we need more.

I’ve been curious about the cause, effect, and how to consciously trigger flow as a sports enthusiast. When we enter this dynamic zone, how does our brain process information?

In a previous article, I discussed the five brainwaves and how they relate to a flow state. Remember that there are five different brain waves: Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. There, I outlined how our beta brain waves activate when our brains are functioning normally. In this state, we experience our typical waking consciousness as well as a more alert, logical, and critical state.

During our natural Beta state, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, in particular, plays a crucial role. It is the area of the brain that enables us to evaluate and consider our own actions, which can be incredibly helpful in some situations. An illustration would be when crossing the street or making important choices. We use our conscious minds when our brains are in the beta state, which is normal. According to studies, processing information while we are in our conscious minds is very laborious and takes a lot of energy.

Furthermore, in order to get into the zone, a portion of your brain needs to switch off. You must change your brain’s state from beta, or the normal state, to transient hypofrontality, also known as flow. The frontal cortex is referred to as the frontal lobe in the words “frontality,” “hypo,” and “transient” (the front of your brain). You must silence your “inner critic” in transient hypofrontality because it undermines your efforts to focus and deflect attention. The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, the one I previously mentioned, is the only part of the brain that fits this description. To prevent distractions and direct all of your attention to the part of your brain you want to use without limitations or micromanagement during athletic performance, you must turn off that portion of your brain. Quick responses and uninterrupted productivity will follow from this. Therefore, in transient hypofrontality, we are exchanging conscious processing for subconscious processing, where information is processed very quickly and with minimal energy.

Here is a graphic comparison of the brain in Beta (normal state) and the brain in Transient Hypofrontality to help you better understand the differences (Flow State).

According to some reports, time seems to slow down for most athletes who have experienced being in the zone. According to research, the prefrontal cortex of the brain, in particular, is responsible for time calculation throughout the brain. This explains why when we’re in the zone, we act more unconsciously and lose track of the past and future. The “Deep Now” draws us in deeper.

Your brain deactivates while it is in transient hypofrontality to maximize efficiency. Your actions become more unconsciously driven. You accelerate. You improve your efficiency. You improve your energy efficiency. Take on the superhuman form!

The original article can be read here: https://www.cwilsonmeloncelli.com/into-the-mind-of-flow-deactivate-to-activate-your-subconscious/