<p>There is a mental state called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">flow</a>, similar in ways to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance" rel="nofollow noreferrer">trance</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_(psychology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">absorption</a>, in which mental focus is fully taken by one task. In the case of flow, the usual focus on a particular goal is replaced by focus on the task itself, losing both oneself and the future by entering fully into the moment and the action itself. In a way, one's state of being merges with the action, so as to become the action. From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In positive psychology, a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Enjoyment of the activity stems from the experience itself, rather than from what one expects to gain as a result of the action. As such the activity is said to be <em>intrinsically</em> rewarding. Basically one has transcended worry and self-reflection, fully engrossed without question. From my experience, questioning the task can break the flow. From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Some of the challenges to staying in flow include states of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">apathy</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boredom" rel="nofollow noreferrer">boredom</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety" rel="nofollow noreferrer">anxiety</a>. The state of apathy is characterized by easy challenges and low skill level requirements, resulting in a general lack of interest in the activity. Boredom is a slightly different state that occurs when challenges are few, but one's skill level exceeds those challenges causing one to seek higher challenges. A state of anxiety occurs when challenges are high enough to exceed perceived skill level, causing distress and uneasiness. These states in general prevent achieving the balance necessary for flow.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T07:30:14.667Z
2022-01-20T07:30:14.667Z
Michael
<p>Is there a term that can describe that a job, however exhausting it might be, just does itself?
Meaning, for example, that all doubt concerning <em>how</em> you're doing a job, whether or not you <em>should</em> do the job instead of something else, or any doubt of the <em>value</em> you're creating is just not there?</p>
<p>As an example, I saw an interview where an author was asked how much effort it took to write a particular book. The answer was &quot;No effort at all, the book wrote itself&quot;, which is of course not literally true, because it takes reasearch, time, dedication and long hard hours in front of a PC to write a book. Still, I understand what they mean by this, when looking back to certain efforts I've made myself. But I don't know if this can be described in full by a certain term.</p>
<p>I'm surprised how hard it was to find anything about this just googling, so any suggestions would be great!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T07:27:00.300Z
I don't understand the question; what job *'does itself?*' And the second sentence doesn't make much sense: '*meaning [...] how you're doing a job [...] is just not there'* is unintelligible (at least to me). Can you clarify the Q and improve its wording?
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T07:53:16.313Z
@AliceD I saw an interview where an author was asked how much effort it took to write a particular book. The answer was "No effort at all, the book wrote itself", which is of course not literally true, because it takes reasearch, time, dedication and long hard hours in front of a PC to write a book. Still, I understand what they mean by this, when looking back to certain efforts I've made myself. I hope this makes more sense, and thank you for your interest in the question!
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T08:19:58.660Z
So you are talking about a feeling restrospectively? This changes the question premise considerably I think, also given below answer that's talking about a current mental state.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T10:55:59.920Z
@AliceD I would be interested in both, actually. The retrospective feeling *and* a description of the mental state as the work is being done.
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T13:35:28.333Z
To be honest, the phrase "the job just did itself", even if it is not exactly a feeling, is perhaps the best way to describe it!
Peter - Reinstate Monica
<motivation>
What term can describe the feeling that a job just does itself?
vestland
# What term can describe the feeling that a job just does itself?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-19)

Is there a term that can describe that a job, however exhausting it might be, just does itself?
Meaning, for example, that all doubt concerning *how* you're doing a job, whether or not you *should* do the job instead of something else, or any doubt of the *value* you're creating is just not there?

As an example, I saw an interview where an author was asked how much effort it took to write a particular book. The answer was "No effort at all, the book wrote itself", which is of course not literally true, because it takes reasearch, time, dedication and long hard hours in front of a PC to write a book. Still, I understand what they mean by this, when looking back to certain efforts I've made myself. But I don't know if this can be described in full by a certain term.

I'm surprised how hard it was to find anything about this just googling, so any suggestions would be great!

**Tags:** motivation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't understand the question; what job *'does itself?*' And the second sentence doesn't make much sense: '*meaning [...] how you're doing a job [...] is just not there'* is unintelligible (at least to me). Can you clarify the Q and improve its wording?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I saw an interview where an author was asked how much effort it took to write a particular book. The answer was "No effort at all, the book wrote itself", which is of course not literally true, because it takes reasearch, time, dedication and long hard hours in front of a PC to write a book. Still, I understand what they mean by this, when looking back to certain efforts I've made myself. I hope this makes more sense, and thank you for your interest in the question!  
> **username_1**: So you are talking about a feeling restrospectively? This changes the question premise considerably I think, also given below answer that's talking about a current mental state.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I would be interested in both, actually. The retrospective feeling *and* a description of the mental state as the work is being done.  
> **username_2**: To be honest, the phrase "the job just did itself", even if it is not exactly a feeling, is perhaps the best way to describe it!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-01-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

There is a mental state called [flow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)), similar in ways to [trance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance) and [absorption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_(psychology)), in which mental focus is fully taken by one task. In the case of flow, the usual focus on a particular goal is replaced by focus on the task itself, losing both oneself and the future by entering fully into the moment and the action itself. In a way, one's state of being merges with the action, so as to become the action. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)):

> In positive psychology, a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time.

Enjoyment of the activity stems from the experience itself, rather than from what one expects to gain as a result of the action. As such the activity is said to be *intrinsically* rewarding. Basically one has transcended worry and self-reflection, fully engrossed without question. From my experience, questioning the task can break the flow. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)):

> Some of the challenges to staying in flow include states of [apathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy), [boredom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boredom), and [anxiety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety). The state of apathy is characterized by easy challenges and low skill level requirements, resulting in a general lack of interest in the activity. Boredom is a slightly different state that occurs when challenges are few, but one's skill level exceeds those challenges causing one to seek higher challenges. A state of anxiety occurs when challenges are high enough to exceed perceived skill level, causing distress and uneasiness. These states in general prevent achieving the balance necessary for flow.


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