How married are you to the idea of Engagement?
In my last newsletter I spoke about the PERMA model (see below for link to it) and the five building blocks that enable flourishing and wellbeing. We spoke about Positive Emotion.
The second letter of the PERMA acronym speaks to Engagement, particularly in respect to what it means for your own wellbeing. Not necessarily about your level of engagement at work, but from a wider perspective.
Martin Seligman (creator of PERMA) says it is about ‘flow’ or ‘being one with the music’. In a state of flow, if you like. In psychology terms, flow would be seen as ‘a state of intense engagement, focus and contentment in the present moment and current activity’. Think about being in the zone, like an artist painting or an author writing, and getting lost in the process.
When adult colouring-in was a thing recently (is it still??), a friend of mine flew from Sydney to Los Angeles and brought her colouring books and pens with her. Without even realising it, she reached L.A. and had spent most of the journey colouring in her mandalas. She didn’t turn on her TV even once to look at a movie! In fact, she told me that the person beside her joined in and they sat there in silence just staying between the lines!
Being in these states of flow enhance creativity, innovation, performance, and immersion in one’s own experience. Magical stuff and considered to be profound in improving your overall satisfaction in life.
So, think about activities you love, spend time in nature, explore what mindfulness means to you and identify and learn your strengths and growth areas though fulfilling flow.