Have you ever looked up at the stars and dreamed of space travel? Here at Retro Print Co we believe reaching for the stars isn't just about dreaming, it's about unlocking our full potential. In The Rise of Superman, author Steve Kotler dives into the science of Flow states and how they can be used to optimize performance. Flow is known as an optimal state of consciousness where people are completely absorbed in an activity, experiencing a deep focus and enjoyment. Flow has been found to have a positive effect on individual performance, allowing for increases in productivity, improved problem-solving skills, increased creativity, and improved mental and physical health.  

At the heart of Flow is the environment one finds themselves in. Kotler discusses the importance of high performance individuals such as extreme athletes or surgeons deliberately molding their environments, allowing for them to enter flow states, so that they can push the boundaries of their own abilities.  Visuals are key to this molding process, as visuals focus and anchor an individual’s attention and energy.  Visuals serve as a physical reminder of one’s goals and help to keep us focused and motivated.

Here at Retro Print Co, we believe taking the time to create the perfect environment for Flow can help you achieve your goals, whether that’s at work, at home, or in the extreme sports world.  If our environments dictate who we are, how can we dictate our environments, so that we get the most out of ourselves? Taking Kotler’s principles into consideration we believe transforming everyday mundane environments into spaces which invoke inspiration and creativity is one way to begin to enhance our day to day. Everyone can begin to do this by asking the questions, where am I going, who do I want to be, and am I surrounded by visual reminders of these goals to help maintain focus?