The Pathway to Flow: The New Science of Harnessing Creativity to Heal and Unwind the Body & Mind

Whether it’s playing an instrument, cooking, drawing or dancing, 15 minutes of creativity – of flow state – a day can transform your life. Max Planck Institute neuroscientist and former dancer Dr Christensen unveils the new science of mindfulness and the flow state, revealing the secrets behind our lost focus and how to unwind without meditating. After an injury derailed her career as a ballet dancer, Julia F. Christensen embarked on a new path as a neuroscientist. Her study of psychology turned her into her own first case study: unable to dance as a mode of expression, she felt more stress and less motivation. After finding relief by drawing, she turned to science to unlock the secrets to the flow state, mapping out what happens in our brains when we create and play, and how both can soothe the mind. This book teaches us to harness our inner creativity, and reveals: · Why we ruminate or procrastinate – and it’s not our fault · Why even just making ‘bad art’ is a mood booster · How adopting a creative practice can improve problem-solving · How to build a science-backed practice that suits you best · Why art can be a powerful trauma-healing tool. The Pathway to Flow offers a cutting-edge insight into why all of us are artists at heart, and how embracing this part of our humanity can help us regulate our nervous system without meditating.