Why our dog adventures are essentially selfish

You might be a little puzzled and confused by the title of today’s dogblog. So let me explain.

It all stems from Flow theory. Unfamiliar with the Flow State then please Google “Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi”.

His pioneering work, researching what has become known as the flow state is certainly worth looking into.

The following diagram gives a good breakdown of skill level vs challenge.

To enter the Flow State we must use our attained skills over 10 years of dog walking and then find the challenge or adventure which will complement this.

Flow is that feeling of timing both speeding up and slowing down simultaneously. You are aware of every movement, action, footstep, but a long walk goes by in a flash.

Flow is often to be found in extreme sports, but can also be found in hobbies where you lose 5 hours engrossed in your activity. Suddenly it is 3am and you have work the next day.

Examples vary greatly from doing puzzles, woodwork or even chatting with friends you have not seen for a while to extreme skiing, mountain biking and adrenaline busting activities.

The resulting neuro-chemical release is the highest state achievable. You are left with a sense of awe and a contentment to last days.

So …. What are you waiting for? Go find your Flow in whatever allows you to access it. Enjoy!

Doggies: Nansen, Deano, Sid and Ibsen