Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Getting Good and Getting Even Better

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Mark Wilson writes (majorly snipped):
 
"I highly recommend his (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) book, Finding Flow,  which 
is available at  
Amazon, and is carried at most  libraries.  Recently, to my great  
surprise, I found a music  teacher by the name of Andreas Burzik  in  
Germany, who is  teaching using Csikszentmihalyi's techniques. He has  
some  wonderful information on his website, that if diligently   
followed, will allow anyone to get into a flow state while  practicing."
 
....Great! Thank you!  Mark....I followed through last night and  read up on 
the information you posted. 
 It struck such a needed chord with me...I'd just read something  along a 
very similar vein that kept drawing me back as well.  I get  something called The 
Daily Om in my mailbox each day but hadn't yet read  this one....
 
"September 21,  2006
Following The  Current



Going With  The Flow  
The expression going with the flow is a metaphor that  applies to navigating 
a river. When we go with the flow, we follow the  current of the river rather 
than push against it. People who go with the  flow may be interpreted as lazy 
or passive, but to truly go with the flow  requires awareness, presence, and 
the ability to blend one's own energy  with the prevailing energy. Going with 
the flow doesn't mean we toss our  oars into the water and kick back in the 
boat, hoping for the best. Going  with the flow means we let go of our individual 
agenda and notice the play  of energy all around us. We tap into that energy 
and flow with it, which  gets us going where we need to go a whole lot faster 
than resistance will.  

Going with the flow doesn't mean that we don't know where we're  going; it 
means that we are open to multiple ways of getting there. We are  also open to 
changing our destination, clinging more to the essence of our  goal than to the 
particulars. We acknowledge that letting go and modifying  our plans is part 
of the process. Going with the flow means that we are  aware of an energy that 
is larger than our small selves and we are open to  working with it, not 
against it. 

Many of us are afraid of going  with the flow because we don't trust that we 
will get where we want to go  if we do. This causes us to cling to plans that 
aren't working, stick to  routes that are obstructed, and obsess over 
relationships that aren't  fulfilling. When you find yourself stuck in these kinds of 
patterns, do  yourself a favor and open to the flow of what is rather than 
resisting it.  Trust that the big river of your life has a plan for you and let 
it carry  you onward. Throw overboard those things that are weighing you down. 
Be  open to revising your maps. Take a deep breath and move into the  
current." 
....and surprisingly (for me)...I'm now fighting my fears of  stepping off 
into the unknown ever since SPAH/Denver opened up  new pathways for me in 
several different ways..and have decided that  this is exactly what I need to do.  
It's time to grow up.    
It's how I've always played music when I'm alone, both on keyboard  and 
harmonica.  Buzz Krantz, Mike Runyan's pep talks, and then Joe  Filisko's 
explanation about breathing fell into this  category...playing onstage with amazing and 
wonderful people like Joe  Leone and Wally Peterman made some of my fears 
fall away....listening to  Robert Bonfiglio's teaching at the Grand Canyon 
brought much more of it  into focus...now I just have to let go of the rest....in 
other issues in  my life as well. 
Sometimes it all comes together through the most  circuitous of paths.  I'm 
so appreciative. 
Elizabeth