It is a strange thing when we humans seem to get into "the zone", where everything seems to fall into place with crystal clarity. We often see this, it seems, in sporting events. An athlete or even a team will suddenly start clicking, "hitting on all cylinders", as the saying goes. It becomes almost supernatural. Even in our more mundane everyday lives, we can have these moments of clarity hit us, when something or a path becomes crystal clear to us.

An Quarterback on an American Football team suddenly can't miss a pass. A world class sprinter suddenly cruises easily to the finish line, breaking a world record. Soccer (European Football) team suddenly can't miss a pass or a goal attempt. A boxer gets his second wind and lands blow after blow after blow. We may be jogging our daily mileage and some problem's answer becomes crystal clear. We may be stumped with a problem and while doing something totally unrelated, the solution comes to us.

I have often pondered why this happens. Is it some chemical reaction in our brain that kicks in at certain times? Part of that 80-90% we seldom use? Or is it a more "fun and mysterious" function of some unknown otherworldly power? Do our brains tap into a previously unseen area, like ESP or another dimension? Do the forces of the earth suddenly line up and clarify our sight?

It can happen at the strangest of times, like breaking through a writer's block or when stumped in another creative endeavor. We can look at a problem and suddenly the "big picture" comes into clear focus, the path known. In the moment between two breaths, everything we try becomes wildly successful. We just can't miss.

What do you think this state of being is? Is it a human-based reaction? Is it outside forces coming together for our benefit? Is it something entirely different from what I've thought of here? Inquiring minds want to know!

Well, the veil is lifting and we regain access to more of the potential we truly have. Stay tuned and even more will come

These sorts of little epiphanies and moments of clarity aren't uncommon when you take a break from your computer.

Try not posting or logging in for a whole day (please do not mis-interpret me. I'm certainly not telling you to 'get lost' or suggesting that in any way, shape or form).

Discover that these superhuman feats can actually come naturally to those who apply a little bit of focus.

I believe it is a form of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance Creative people often go into this type of state when they create. We are partly in the physical world that surrounds us and partly in another place entirely. If you have ever seen musicians when they are jamming you may have observed a vacant look on their faces. They may look at you but they don't really see you. At least half of their attention is focused on the music.

This happens, I believe, when the conscious and subconscious minds are active at the same time. This would explain why so many creative people get ideas when they are half-awake or when they are performing some routine chore (like walking or driving) that only occupies part of their conscious mind.

Adrenaline and survival instincts kicking in? Nothing more?

Not sure how trance fits into that...

These moments also occur when one is just sitting down doing nothing. I don't think my body is generating adrenaline or going into survival mode while I'm sitting around doing nothing when I suddenly get "into the zone".

Words are gonna utter fail me here, but lets give it a while shall we?


Pseron Wyrd kinda hit the mark (in my opinion) with the trance thingy.. although 'trance' might not be the über correct nomenclature for this, since it at some level implies an active I-gotta-gets-me-into-a-trance mode of action, when I feel that it's the opposite; it's a passive action of almost non-focusing that allows the body and spirit to function in cohort together.

I've done a lot of Tai-chi in my life (my dad started me on it when I was eight..) but I don't want to use any of their obvious labels because if you're on the outside looking in they'll just muddle the conversation even more(*).

"Letting the force flow freely"

..is probably a better way to describe it, considering the demographics here

When I'm writing, and I get to a point where I'm not actively thinking of what I have to write anymore but at some point it becomes a matter of me just having the thoughts and then watching my hands translate those thoughts onto the screen. And it does become kinda weird when I can actively look at myself typing with my hands moving in a blur and not have to even think of what I'm doing and be able to think to myself

'Wow, look at my hands fly over the keyboard.. I'm in the zone now!'

..which can be completely shattered if my son walks in and asks if I've seen his nerf gun laying around anywhere.

Hope this helps in some way

(*) but if you want I think it can be said that when ying and yang are alligned in a person then Chi is able to flow unobstructed through the mind and body.. (**)

(**)told ya it would muddle things...

It's aliens. Is such a thing possible? Yes it is, according to Ancient Alien Theorists.

I've always thought of it as the ideal intersection of mental focus, skill, muscle memory clicking into place, the right proportions of adrenaline and/or hormones/chemicals in the blood stream, etc. I never thought of it as anything metaphysical...just the right combination of things happening within the mind and body at the same time. It can certainly feel magical, but IMO it's all psychology and physiology.

I lean towards this theory but how can it be muscle "memory" if it happens in a way that isn't repetitive or that you've done before? I've had some pretty amazing reflex moments where I'm faster then I am consciously and I'm not athletic at all.

I can't list them all (or remember so many) but I've jumped dodged getting hit by a car on foot, my body just reacted, leapt and turned sideways mid jump to narrowly avoid getting hit (their bumper grazed my shirt).

Another one was when changing a diaper one day, 1 hand holding legs and the other reaching out for a wipe...he flung the toy he was holding and without looking I somehow turned and snatched it midair with my free hand that was reaching for the wipe. I had to pause for a moment after realizing what just happened as I had no idea how I did that, he threw it pretty fast too.

I hear ya. I don't think of things like that as "being in the zone," though. I think of those as, "freak moments of awesomeness."

ha well I equate it all to that same heightened sense zone where all the magic happens. It must be some ancient human thing where if you weren't in the zone then you were food.

With sporting events, it comes down to training and practicing those same movements and actions, repeatedly. This becomes second nature, or instinctual. Everything after that is just confidence and knowing what you've been capable of. Be it writing, a public presentation, or catching a glass before it hits floor. imo.

i think it's kind of a feedback loop of self reliance. (also applicable to groups

usually, most of our brain is busy finding reasons for to not do / change / stop things, judging our every move and give us doubts about pretty much everything.

and every single idea, impulse etc we ever get needs to pass through these, uhm, layers of fuss.

which, at best, takes time, thereby making things go slow and tedious.

or, at worse, prevents us from doing anything at all, draw blankets over our heads and svck thumbs mon-sat.

if we see events as long chains of little decisions and actions we take, for every successful one, these control instances in our minds will losen up a bit. or tighten up a bit for every unsuccessful one.

so now, take an unbroken chain of successful "eventlets" if you want. bit by bit, your brain's bad mood center will continuously let go and hand things over to up to basically running on instinct. and once you're there and your success chain won't break, you'll get your "zone".

just note how states like this immediately collapse (letting aside drug influence) when things start to go bonkers.

...or if you prefer esoterics: dharma. that's, in short version, what you should be doing. karma, that's like a rubber band connecting you to that. you can move elsewhere, but the farther away you get, the harder it'll become. "the zone", that would be zero distance, in this scenario.

Some really cool thoughts here!

@Azreal00, what did you just read? I was not seeking advice or anything, just discussion

I like he trance theory and it makes sense. I also think adrenaline (or some other bodily chemical) may play a hand in this.

The brain just fascinates me. So much unknown

I usually get into the zone when I play Xcom, I really want my soldiers to return safely from battle so my concentration goes full force and as such take me longer to get through a stage. Same thing goes for stealth and tactical shooter games.

IMO You're just focusing all your neurons onto the task at hand. Odds are you're also simultaneously healthy and rested.

In high school I played hockey & a bit of football, hockey in college. Now I golf. I have had the feeling in golf. I stand over a ball and know I'm going to hit a nice draw or fade or whatever shot I need. The hole looks 3 feet wide when I putt. I wont last more than 9 holes at best but it fun while it lasts. I wonder of the pros always have some of that feeling.

I don't ever remember it in my other sports. I wonder if its because hockey is a 'flow' sport. You don't have set piece moves like a golf or baseball swing. Plus in hockey I may feel like I can nail my wrist shot to a spot, but there are a couple of defenseman and a goalie with other ideas. What if they are in the zone too?

I think part of it is instincts too.


Like when I'm shooting a bow or aiming a shot in beer pong or whatever, and I find the longer I try to aim the shot, the higher chance I have at missing it.


While if I just quickly pull the bow string back and shoot at my target, or just quickly throw my ping pong ball into the cup without aiming, I find my shots much more accurate. I usually tell people I'm letting my instincts take over and I find my instincts better than my calculating. I think part of this is when I think too much about logistics and getting the shot right, I start to doubt myself and that's where I fail.


Similarly, when I used to played pool all the time, I was either pretty bad, or really really good. When I got like 3 beers in, and I got "into the zone", I would get what I personally called "the vision".


When I got the vision, what would happen is when I aim the shot in pool and I bring my head down to level with the table when I'm taking my shot, I almost see the lines telling me where my shot is gonna go.


You know in pool video games where it has a dotted line talking you where your shot is gonna go and where the ball is gonna bounce to? I would get that, where I basically saw this dotted line telling me where my shot is gonna go. And about 95% of the time, the vision was perfectly accurate.


I'd know right away when I go to take a shot in pool whether I have the vision today or not, when I didn't, I automatically knew I was gonna svck, but when I did I could get convoluted shots all the time.


To me I see it as a psychological thing. When I'm "in the zone" or I feel like I'm in the zone, then I'm unstoppable at what I do, but when I'm not, I find I'm doubting myself and that's what causes me to fail. If I'm depressed or got any sort of anxiety, I can never be in the zone, but if I can clear my mind, I find I can be almost if not the best at what I'm doing in that very moment.

What's the saying, "Chance favors the prepared mind" and I think it is a key quote in many ways and on many levels. As for athletes, it is a state of mind and the body fitness elevating it all to a higher level. A sort of eureka moment when you experience that you can really do this! First time I experienced it was at the age of fourteen, at the schools yearly running day. Normally I would just run the 5km route and be done with it. That year however, I took the 10km route because I wanted to prove that I could do it. After some 3-4km I knew something was different. I couldn't feel my legs, well I could, but they felt more like not part of me and I was just "flying" without thought...geez hard to explain but I managed not only the 10km, I came in first for my age and set a new school record of 48 minutes and some seconds. Thing is, I had been training some more running, because I knew I would take that distance, so I came prepared for the run both in fitness and in will power because I had something to prove!

In more creative flows of thought, when you come into the zone, is really a matter of conditioning your brain, snap those neurons to new paths by being places where creativety is king. The more you try to create, the more creative you will get, eventually, if you let your brain flow and absorb. That's why we go "oh and ah" when we see a cool drawing, not thinking about, that the artist have spent several years to get to that point, where his drawings have the real awe-inspiring wow factor. Some it comes easy to, others have to work hard for it. Which might have to do with other things like upbringing, where you grow up and things like that.

"You can't get lucky, if you don't play!"

This actually resonated with me. Growing up I used to try to actually "use the force" when I was really little, because at that age anything is possible. Recently in the last 5 years of my life I became a pretty staunch atheist (not trying to bring up religion but I feel this applies for me and wish to discuss it) and all the magic in the world just kind of went away. I was very spiritual in my teens though, growing up in a Native American cultured family I believed all things were spiritually connected. I lost that when I left faith. Now that I'm getting into my 30's and I have a daughter that's always asking me if X/Y/Z is real I've started to realize that sometimes you need a little magic to have imagination and wonder.

I've recently became more agnostic than anything and I get what your saying about that moment when mind, body and soul work as one. It's a feeling of your whole being is one working entity and it barely takes thought to accomplish the task.

it's odd how these things are always treated as a unit - but "faith" and "spirituality" aren't necessarily connected.

"is there an almighty creator intelligence" (or whatever you want to define "god" as) and "are there phenomenons not covered by physics", or more concrete, like, "does telepathy exist", that's just 2 totally different questions,

and none of both would necessarily exclude the other: "there's a god, but no telepathy" is just as plausible or not as "there's telepathy, but no god"

still, they almost _always_ come in a religion-spirituality-bundle (and things get even more odd in my eyes when "alien life?" gets bundled up with these too, i mean wtf does THAT have to do with it now (just on a side note, i know you didn't say that

...and even the term "spirituality" is an oddity in itself already, i mean, above "does telepathy exist", to reuse that, or "do ghosts exist", or "is there really anything like yin, yang, chi and their buddies", that's, again, totally different questions with no necessary connection whatsoever.

and hell yeah is the girl right.

"real", as in "100% is what i perceive it to be"? forget it.

the best thing along the lines of "real" we'll ever get are, like, "gonna hurt when i kick it", or "will likely still be there tomorrow".

the latin word, realitas, literally means "what flies back", or "what strikes back" or "affects back". that's the friggin' best we'll ever get, if we're honest.

edit: sry 4 having posted overtly religious stuff in my 1st version

Are you sure? I've never experienced this, so don't know if it's true, but... Some stories float about where exhaustion can lead to clarity, or "in the zone" moments. Athletics, not so much (if at all), but mental clarity does have stories about that

Again, I don't know. Just a possibility.

That's usually my loopy state of mind

Keep religious discussion/comments off the table please. This can have a tendency to step over that rule, ok? Thanks