Extreme athletes achieve flow more often than anyone else from "summary" of The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler
In the world of high-risk sports, getting into flow isn't just a possibility, it's a necessity. Extreme athletes like big wave surfers, BASE jumpers, and free solo climbers are constantly pushing the boundaries of human performance, and they do so by tapping into an altered state of consciousness known as flow. This mental state, characterized by complete immersion in the task at hand, is where these athletes find their ultimate potential. Flow is a state of optimal performance where the challenge at hand perfectly matches the athlete's skill level. In this state, the athlete experiences a sense of timelessness, effortlessness, and total focus. It's a moment of pure presence, where every action flows seamlessly into the next. For extreme athletes, flow is not just a pleasant side effect of their sport – it's a crucial component of their success. What sets extreme athletes apart from the rest of us is their ability to consistently access flow states in the most extreme circumstances. When they're riding a massive wave or jumping off a cliff, there's no room for self-doubt or distractio...
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