Dr Sue Jackson

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Dr Sue Jackson

Sue is an experienced psychologist and expert in flow and high performance.

Sue Jackson is a performance psychologist with a passion for Flow—the optimal psychological state popularly known as being in the zone. Sue has a background of researching the flow concept for over 25 years, and the combination of her research, writing, and applied work with high-level performers from many different domains has helped to make the flow state both understandable and accessible to all, from weekend warriors to Olympic champions. You can find links to her first book on flow, Flow in Sports, co-authored with the founder of flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and to her recently released book, Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, at her website, www.bodyandmindflow.com.au

If you want to develop your ability to be totally present in your work and life, contact Sue regarding her performance psychology consulting, mindfulness workshops and classes, all tailored to meet your individual or corporate goals.

02/01/2026

What kills flow the fastest?

Anxiety is one of the biggest disruptors of flow, not because it exists, but because of how we interpret it. When anxiety is read as danger or self-doubt, it quickly unsettles the balance between challenge and skill. Learning a different way of being with anxiety can dramatically change it’s impact.

30/12/2025

If we only value achievement, we risk missing our lives while building — and living — them. Flow centers us back in experience.

While making any New Year’s resolutions, consider widening focus from what you’d like to achieve to the quality of experience you’d like to cultivate.

22/12/2025

Two common misconceptions about flow can get in the way of performance.

Flow isn’t luck, and it isn’t effortless. It’s a psychological state that emerges from preparation, attention, and work that often extends beyond the physical.

Here’s why monitoring flow actually disrupts focus, and how the conditions for flow are built well before the moment itself.

15/10/2025

The fastest, science-backed relaxation method isn’t meditation or journaling – although both of these are effective methods to manage stress.

A long exhale signals to the heart to lower heart rate – and this helps bring immediate calm to body and mind.
One technique, dating back to the 1930’s, and in recent years, brought to mainstream attention by the excellent work of Andrew Huberman & colleagues, is the physiological sigh. The process is simple: Take a double inhale through the nose (long inhale followed by another short breath in) followed by a long exhale through the mouth.

• A simple, and effective, stress management exercise.
• Try it before your next meeting, race, or presentation.
• You’ll feel your body settle before your mind catches up.

🧠 Balban et al., Cell Reports Medicine (2023)

30/09/2025

How do you know you’re in flow?

I’ve spent decades studying flow – and still find these signs powerful reminders of what it feels like to be fully alive in what you’re doing. And, like others who have found flow in what they do, I have appreciated these defining features of flow through experiencing them in my life.

In my work, I help others to understand and find these flow factors in their chosen performance domains.
🌊 Read my latest blog here:
https://drsuejackson.com/finding-flow-why-our-experiences-matter-more-than-our-achievements/

26/09/2025

What if the best parts of life aren’t the big wins, but the moments we’re fully absorbed in what we’re doing?

As a sports enthusiast, I have been enjoying the opportunity to watch some excellent sports events recently, including the World Athletics Championships. And here in Australia, a big weekend of professional sport awaits, and the media is in full gear speculating about who is going to win. But what if the richest parts of life aren't the trophies, but the moments we’re challenging ourselves and fully alive in what we’re doing?

At the recent International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress, I spoke about flow – the optimal state of deep focus, calm control, and joy in the moment.

In my latest blog, I share why those experiences stay with us, and how we can create more of them – at work, in sport, and in life.
🌀 Read the full post at DrSueJackson.com/blog

20/09/2025

It was great to hear leading neuroscientist, Dr Christof Koch, mention flow states while discussing consciousness with Andrew Huberman on a recent podcast.

At one point Christof said, “You can’t cancel consciousness”, countering the arguments from some in science that consciousness doesn’t exist. Referring to how some worry about how consciousness fits into the scientific world, Koch points out that we find ourselves in a universe where we are conscious.

I thought, similarly, you can’t cancel flow; it’s a real and relevant experience. Just because it’s complex to investigate with our present scientific toolkit doesn’t mean flow is not relevant, and important to continue to investigate. Flow is inherently challenging to experience, and no surprise, it’s challenging to research.

Yet, quality of experience matters. I’ve yet to have a conversation with someone about flow and hear them say flow experiences they’ve had don’t matter. Instead, these experiences become among the most treasured experiences in their life.

So why focus on flow? Because flow experiences exist, and when they do, they lift the quality of experience from ordinary to optimal.

11/09/2025

Enjoyed speaking with Liana from about flow in sport and in life. It’s always good to talk about flow state with people from different walks of life and to find that thread of curiosity plus challenge that lifts ordinary experience to optimal.

22/08/2025

We don’t grow by staying comfortable. Growth, and often flow, happens when we lean into challenges that stretch us just beyond our comfort zone.

It was great to see National Geographic's Limitless with Chris Hemsworth highlight this link so clearly. In Season 2, Episode 3, both Chris and the neuroscientist he worked with described how meeting high challenges creates the conditions for flow. It was refreshing to see a mainstream program give such a clear illustration of what flow is and how to access it.

Chris refers to his being motivated to experience again what he observed in his kids taking on challenges, “Where that moment is the only moment that exists”. Both he and freestyle motocross rider and friend Robbie Maddison describe an affinity with flow, with a great description from Robbie about how time transforms in flow: “Time really starts to stand still. There are infinite things that can happen in that moment. It just seems to last forever.”

05/07/2025

Great IPPA World Congress here in Brisbane this week. The program was jam-packed full of quality and I learnt a lot, both from presentations and interactions with fellow Congress attendees. Grateful for the opportunity to give a keynote presentation on Flow, where I shared some ideas on why this optimal psychological state matters in living a good life.

02/05/2025

Why does Flow Matter in Positive Psychology?

I’m pleased to share that I’ll be a keynote speaker at the IPPA World Congress 2025, to be held in Brisbane from July 2–5. This international gathering, hosted by the International Positive Psychology Association, brings together researchers, practitioners, and those passionate about human flourishing.

In my keynote, I’ll explore the topic of Why Flow Matters in Positive Psychology—a subject close to my heart and one that offers valuable insights into how we can support well-being in meaningful, evidence-based ways.

For more details or to register, visit the official congress website: https://ippaworldcongress.org/
I look forward to connecting with colleagues and contributing to this vibrant exchange of ideas.

22/04/2025

Flow—the state of total immersion in performance, can happen when challenge and skill are in perfect balance—too little challenge leads to boredom; too much leads to anxiety. The key is to find your Flow Edge, where your skills stretch you to meet a high challenge. It is a fine edge between being bored and being overwhelmed.

For the past 17 years, I’ve helped people understand and experience the optimal psychological state of flow through Body and Mind Flow. As my work has increasingly focused on high-performance consulting, I’m excited to continue this journey at www.drsuejackson.com, a space that better represents this evolution, and where I will be focusing my work on helping individuals to find their flow edge.
Want to access flow more often? Set clear goals, seek immediate feedback, and adjust the difficulty of tasks to stay in that sweet spot between comfort and challenge. I look forward to continue to share with you ways you can Find Your Flow Edge in your performances and in life.

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Brisbane, QLD

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http://www.drsuejackson.com/

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