Buddhism on a Bike: Tailoring Mindfulness-Acceptance to Promote Flow in Competitive Athletes

Abstract

The positive psychological construct of flow - an optimal mental state where one is absorbed in a task to a level where a sense of unity between body and mind yields a sense of effortlessness and enjoyment - offers the potential of endowing present moment experience with value by fostering enjoyment and personal growth. Previous mindfulness - a present moment focus of attention and awareness that entails an accepting and nonjudgmental relationship with one's thoughts and feelings - in sport research literature suggests greater attentional self-regulation may hold the key to promoting an increase in experiencing flow states. The current thesis presents three studies that were designed and developed to examine the connection between mindfulness and flow.