Valuable information came from two other sources as well. In response to magazine and newspaper articles, hundreds of people from all over the country filled out surveys on their experiences and beliefs. And we organized nine focus groups involving 98 people across the country who hashed through the topics, processes, and techniques we'd learned from the flowmasters. The flowmaster interviews, surveys, and group discussions were transcribed and sorted by subject matter into 241 categories. O ur conclusion from this research process is that flow is the ultimate feedback machine.
Flow responds directly to our beliefs, behaviors, and actions.
We can either enhance this state of perfect timing and flawless serendipity, or we can diminish it and even cut it off. When we become open, willing, trusting, we experience flow as fulfillment and joy, and synchronicities pop up all over the place. When we become fearful, doubting, controlling, flow diminishes, our day is filled with blocks and frustrations, and synchronicities cease. We based the techniques on established psychological and communication theories, and people in the focus groups tried them out in their lives. Their enthusiastic feedback assured us that, yes, we all have it within ourselves to expand into meaning, lightness, and serenity.