Between Shifts: FLOW
A practice for moving freely when pressure rises.
“FLOW isn’t something you force. It’s what’s left when you stop interfering.”
What’s up y’all! Draps here.
I co-create The Inner Rink—a weekly practice on the psychology of performance, discipline, and greatness, on and off the ice.
I’m a pro hockey player turned writer and mentor—here to be the guy I wish I had when I was chasing the dream.
Between Shifts is a mental conditioning system inside The Inner Rink.
RESET was Level 1.
RHYTHM was Level 2.
FLOW is Level 3.
This is where preparation turns into performance.
This is where today’s practice begins.
What FLOW Is
FLOW is performance without interference.
It’s when:
the game slows down.
your reads feel automatic.
your body moves before your mind can react
You’re not guessing.
You’re not forcing.
You’re just playing.
FLOW isn’t a peak moment. It’s a clear state.
What Most Players Get Wrong
They try to create FLOW. They chase it.
They force plays.
They overthink decisions.
They try to “make something happen.”
And the moment they do that…they lose it.
FLOW doesn't come from effort. It comes from trust
FLOW > FORCE
Force looks aggressive. FLOW looks inevitable.
Force grips tighter. FLOW stays loose.
Force chases plays. FLOW reads and reacts.
Force burns energy. FLOW conserves it.
Force tries to dominate. FLOW creates.
You don’t enter flow by pushing harder. FLOW begins when control ends.
A Pro Example
Same moment. Different layer.
Semi-finals.
Down late.
The building already decided the game was over.
RESET kept me from spiraling.
RHYTHM kept me steady.
But FLOW is what let me execute.
I wasn’t thinking about the goal.
I wasn’t forcing a play.
I wasn’t trying to be the hero.
The game came to me and I trusted it.
Puck finds space.
Timing lines up.
Shot goes in
Just action.
If I tried to force that moment, I miss it.
If I overthink, I’m late.
The game didn’t shake my mind. And my mind didn’t interfere with the game.
That’s FLOW.
The Practice
FLOW isn’t something you turn on.
It’s what’s left when you stop interrupting.
Trust Your Preparation
You’ve already done the work.
Let is show up.
Simplify the Moment
Next play.
Next touch.
Next decision.
Remove Extra Thought
No second guessing.
No overanalyzing.
Clear mind. Fast body.
The FLOW Cue
When you feel yourself forcing:
Stop. Breathe once.
Then say internally: “Let it come.”
Not passive. Not detached.
Available.
FLOW is not chasing the game. It’s allowing your preparation to show up without interference.
Jessica’s Perspective- Brain & Performance
FLOW happens when the brain shifts out of conscious control.
Too much thinking activates the prefrontal cortex- which slows down decision making.
Under pressure, untrained athletes over engage this system.
That’s when hesitation appears.
That’s when timing breaks.
FLOW occurs when trained patterns take over.
The body executes what it already knows.
Less thinking. More integration.
FLOW isn’t mental intensity. It’s neutral efficiency.
What FLOW Changes
With consistent FLOW practice:
decisions simplify.
movements clean up.
energy stabilizes.
confidence becomes quiet.
You stop pressing.
You stop proving.
You start playing.
FLOW is identity in motion.
Beyond the Rink
FLOW applies everywhere.
Work.
Conversations.
Creative output.
The moment you try to control everything, you lose timing.
The moment you trust your preparation, things move cleaner.
Control creates friction. Trust creates FLOW.
Reader Reflection
Think about your best performance.
Were you forcing it?
Or were you just playing?
Final Thoughts
Most players think performance comes from doing more.
Thinking more.
Trying harder.
Forcing moments.
But the best performances usually come from something else:
letting go.
When preparation is done, and interference disappears,
performance shows up on its own.
That’s FLOW.
That’s The Inner Rink
Thank yourself for showing up to practice today.
- Joe Drapluk
The guy I wish I had when I was chasing the dream.
Where This Fits in the System
RESET → stabilize yourself.
RHYTHM → regulate your tempo.
FLOW → trust the moment.
Next:
MASTERY → identity independence.
PLAYERMAKER → full integration.
Between Shifts Reflection
When pressure hits, ask yourself:
Am I trying to force this…
or
Am I trusting what I already built?
FLOW lives in the second answer.
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DISCLAIMER
The Inner Rink shares educational content for athletes and readers interested in performance psychology, mindset, and discipline. It is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. Always seek guidance from a qualified health care professional regarding your specific questions and individual situation.
FLOW > FORCE
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