As a fellow designer, I can't adequately describe the high I get when I'm "in that zone". It's something that doesn't happen often enough. But breaking down the steps into an objective model as you've done above will really go a long way towards helping me get into that state more often.

"Being" and "Doing" are important concepts to me, but maybe I use them in a different way.

We all want to "be" someone or something. We want to "be" rich, famous, attractive, creative, talented, an artist, a rock star, an actor, etc. To me that type of "being" is a fantasy or a wish. You often witness this type of "being" when people talk about the book they are going to write, or hand out business cards for a business that doesn't exist yet. They are enamored by "being" but suffer from a shortage of "doing."

The people who are "doing" every day are the ones that accomplish great things. Success is a product of action, not fantasies. "Doing" things because you enjoy them regardless of the rewards you may or may not receive is what designing your own life means to me.

Yes, I know what flow is. I used to get into flow when I was into photography. (I know I will get back into it, soon)

I remember one particular moment, well actually it was more like an hour and a half, in which I took a total of four shots. two of the best photos I EVER did came from those four shots. I used to become oblivious to my surroundings when I was out with my camera, and my new wife could not handle being ignored for what seemed to me like a few seconds, which to her was an eternity, and the actual time was somewhere in between there. So, slowly but surely, photography lost its grip on me.

Now that she has lost a grip on me, I find myself more and more getting into the flow. Whether it's writing or doing dishes, or going for a walk, or being with a good friend.

Thanks for the break down of the process. I love being for the sake of being and doing for the sake of doing.

Rasheed

I totally agree with Flow, it's inspiration and creativity, and you can't force it, you just need to find a way to release it and let it into your mind.

Great post! Have an awesome day! Diggy