Humans are compared to computers all the time. We both seem to be made up of memory, bandwidth and communication devices all processing at varying speeds. Most notably, the human brain is often described as the most powerful computer in nature. So imagine the intrigue, when watching a lecture on flow, a question at the end came up: when we overclock computer components they degrade faster, is hacking into flow just overclocking our bodies? Short answer; no. But let dig a little deeper...
Normally when someone talks about overclocking their computer, they specifically mean the processor (CPU). (I won't go into architectural detail of CPU, as we would be here for weeks, but it is fascinating stuff if you're interested.) It carries out all the complex calculations and keeps all the other components running in time with each other. It is essentially the processing brain of the computer. So the CPU has a standard base clock speed that it runs at, but with some computer witchcraft, you can make it run at a faster speed e.g. 3.6Ghz to 4.4Ghz, improving and potentially hitting its peak performance.
You might be thinking that's no big deal, if it can cope with the higher speed, just run it at that. But this is the issue, and where our flow comparison comes in. In order to run at that higher clock speed, the component is stressed beyond what is the standard level and so degrades faster than if it was processing at the lower speed. This is how basically all man-made objects perform, if you push it further, it degrades quicker.
So with all the similarities between humans and computers, does this mean that when we hack into flow, achieve a flow state more often than a normal person, peaking for longer periods, our body will decay faster due to the extra stress on its components ? The answer is that it won't. Your body is not man-made, so to speak. When you train your body, it improves the quality of its components. Think of an athlete. By training, they improve the condition of their body, allowing them to reach a flow state during their performance. This doesn t mean they have a shorter life or lose the ability to walk sooner than anyone else. If anything it gives them a longer and better standard of life into a late age as they are constantly improving the body capacity.
However, one of the downsides of being human, and being very conscious beings, is that we cannot be in flow all of the time. So we are unlikely to ever really test this question to its entirety. So don't be scared to overclock yourself through flow. You will find that you are simply unlocking the potential you have always had; growing in strength and resilience, allowing you to go further than you ever thought you could.