It seems like the hippie crowd has it down best - I think I need your help. There's really no story involved - I haven't had any traumas, or a whole lot of dysfunction or chaos in my life - but I feel like through the 22 years I've been on this earth, I've been plagued with anxieties and 'forced' my way through everything thus far (I suck with words, I hope somebody can resonate with this enough to get what I mean). To keep it simpler - I have had a really hard time just letting 'it' flow, letting 'it' be, and it's such a practiced habit that I don't know how to 'switch off'. If anyone can offer some advice, secrets or stories, I will absorb it like a sponge and hopefully gain some insight. Thank you!
Try working from the perspective of a physical metaphor for the goal you're trying to reach. Take up a sport that requires flow, without which you can't really participate well, like, say, surfing or skateboarding, or something more practical. Physical involvement in certain sports can often force the psyche gradually to follow along, and loosen up, of necessity. Necessity is the mother of invention. When we need flow, we learn flow. If we're never in a situation where it becomes an absolute necessity, we still have a choice, and our tendency is to simply continue in the way we have been patterned, in the way we've developed habits. Breaking those habits takes an environment that does not reward the keeping of them. It's similar to what happens when you go to live in a foreign country. At first, you may have a tendency to stay within your "comfort zone", and keep speaking your native language, primarily. It becomes uncomfortable after a point to continue speaking your native tongue, when you get no reward for having done so. In France, or French Polynesia, you'll notice, for instance, how often you'll be miserably treated if you make no attempts at learning French. In most countries, making attempts to learn the local language is rewarded with better service, a greater acceptance, personal friendliness, etc. So, find a sport that rewards flow, and the willingness to flow, and practice it daily. The gestalt of doing it will be therapeutic.
There are times when the World seems to conspire against one's peace of mind, but the shadow of doom can be averted with the support of others of like-minded character; either personally or through the InterWeb along with faith and your conviction of conscience. - Be bold and steadfast and the juices will flow. - You are not alone, I'm sure times will be a changing some time soon.
To use the hippie parlance, "letting it flow" requires removing "hangups." When you're supremely happy, confident, and energetic, you flow - there is nothing hanging you up. When you're anxious, scared, second-guessing yourself, worried, unhappy - these are all hangups that block flow. Removing hangups is accomplished via the spiritual path. Everybody is on a spiritual path, whether they're aware of it or not. Every experience we have is designed to whittle away at our hangups. You don't even need to try - it just happens through your experiences. If you want to speed up the process, it might be possible - however I will warn you: Be careful what you wish for. If you think it's hard now, you have no idea...but if you really want to, search deep in your heart to find what it is you truly want from life. Then express that desire to yourself and to the universe. Then take a few deep breaths while you're waiting for all hell to break loose... Cuz it will...however there will be amazing miracles and supremely joyful times as well, so don't lose heart.
I'm one of the most laid-back people, but I used to be very stereotypical Type-A, anxiety-fueled person. I'm not sure exactly how I went from point a to point b; it took a few years of continuous paradigm shifts. What really helped me is to realize how much I have in life to enjoy and how little others on this earth have. Once I realized how lucky I was, it was hard to worry about the small things. The trick is really changing the habits of the mind. When you catch yourself worrying, focus on something. Anything, besides what is worrying you, of course. Become a sensual being. Smell a flower when you feel worried and focus on the smell. Anything that engages the senses will work. Carry around a picture of your favorite piece of art. Or whatever, just anything that can serve as a sensual distraction. This will teach your mind how to live in the moment. Think of anxiety as energy. Energy can not be created nor destroyed but it can be transformed into another form of energy. I like to write, so sometimes when I feel anxious I'll write a poem or song about the way I'm feeling. I'll channel my anxiety into a more creative and productive form of energy. Exercise helps a lot too. When you realize how much anxiety you have and think of it more as potential energy, its amazing the things you realize you're able to accomplish with all that energy. It takes conscious effort at first. If you're a naturally anxious person, you're going to have to spend a few months or even years training your mind to not focus on anything that causes anxiety. Once you train your mind, it gets really easy.
Also btw - you flow when you're doing something you love to do so much that it takes your mind off of everything else and don't notice that passage of time. If you can find activities that do that for you, you should find a way to spend as much of you life as possible in those activities.
Best way to to "let it flow" is to "let it go". Sounds like maybe you're trying to force some kind of mellow, easy feeling to guide your life. Just get out of your own way and let things happen. You maybe overthinking this stuff and scaring away the good things you want...just one old burn out's thoughts, mileage may vary.
