Aligning your Daily Actions with your Greater Purpose

By Dr John Nyamunda – The Elusive State of Flow

Ever felt so lost in a task that hours felt like minutes? That magical state where time stands still and you’re completely absorbed in your work is called “being in flow.” A state of aligning your efforts with God’s greater purpose for you, for the greater good. It’s the opposite of our usual distracted unfulfilling days. Let me share a story about the day when I was completely in flow.

Why Should You Care?

Flow is when everything clicks. You are completely focused, your work feels effortless, and you’re firing in all cylinders. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the “Father of Flow,” says, “Flow is the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.” Studies show that people who regularly experience flow are 50% more productive and 40% happier at work. This means you can serve others more effectively.

My Flow Experience

I’m fortunate to experience flow from time to time, but one recent Saturday stands out. I had purchased new video editing software and challenged myself to create an engaging short video from my favourite article. With a clear goal in mind and my wife’s huge coffee mug in hand, I dove in. Hours flew by! Can you imagine having more days like that?

Lessons on Getting Yourself into Flow

1. Your Goal Must Be Clear and Achievable: St. Ignatius of Loyola said, ‘The Lord gives us work to do, and we must do it with all our might, for His sake and not for our own.'” (The Spiritual Exercises). When you start your day, is your goal clear and within reach? Like today, what is your crystal-clear goal?
2. Eliminate Distractions: Flow can’t happen if you’re constantly interrupted by emails, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls. Even the Lord withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5: 16) which helped him stay focused on His ministry. Do you have any distraction-free zones, or you are open all the time?
3. Don’t just be busy, be fruitful: It’s hard to get into flow with mundane tasks, like entering last year’s invoices into Excel. But if you’re not just busy but fruitful (Pope Francis) your chances of entering flow increase dramatically. On your to-do list this week, what is really important, something to make you fruitful?

Bottom Line

To increase your experience of flow, focus on tasks that matter to you and align with your purpose. Set clear goals, eliminate distractions, and prioritise actions which align with God’s greater purpose in your life. So, what’s your routine for getting into flow? Share your experiences and tips!

Quote: “The important thing is not to be busy, but to be fruitful”- Pope Francis (The Joy of the Gospel, 259)

About the Author: Dr John Nyamunda is a practising Catholic with a PhD in Business Management and over 20 years of corporate experience. He is passionate about his faith and sharing insights on creating purpose-driven work environments. Contact him at .