Olivia Miles: The Embodiment of Flow
According to Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles in their best selling book Ikigai, “flow” is defined as the pleasure, delight, creativity, and process when we are completely immersed in life. Medical News Today describes a flow state as “a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity”. Assuredly many, if not, all of us have appropriately used the term flow state when describing one’s self or other athletes, artists, orators, etc. (It must be noted that anybody from any field of endeavor can fall into a flow state). So why Olivia Miles? Why flow?
The Japanese phrase Ganbaru means “to persevere” or “to stay firm by doing one’s best” - Hector Garcia via Ikigai
No artist would argue against the statement that their most inspired creations come from when they are working out of a flow state. This is so because the work emanated from the flow state is a direct reflection of our inner self. The pleasure, the delight, the creativity if you will, it all presents itself as physical manifestations within our work from the flow state. #1 Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles’ performances on the court this season has embodied this pleasure and creativity more so than any other player this season in women’s college basketball. Though we must remember that this is not a competition. The artists on the court are merely expressing their creativity and inner-self while on the court, whatever comes from that is what comes from that. Of all the many talented players in women’s college basketball from Ta’Niya Latson, Lauren Betts, Juju Watkins, Georgia Amoore, Te-Hina Paopao, Paige Bueckers, Reigen Richardson, even the All-American backcourt mates of Miles’ in Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron; What separates Miles’ from the rest?
Olivia Miles is currently shooting a career high 44% from 3P
It would be easy to simply look at the numbers that Mile’s is putting up this season and point to that as the reason why her performance is separate from others. She’s averaging 16.7ppg, 6.0reb, 6.2ast, all while shooting 52.8% from the field. Not to mention she leads the nation with 3 triple doubles on the season so far. On top of the personal success, Miles has also led the FIghting Irish to being currently #1 in the AP Poll and primed to make a Final Four run. But flow goes beyond the numbers.
#1 Notre Dame has not lost a game since November 30th, 2024 against Utah.
Olivia Miles missed the entirety of the 2023-2024 season due to an ACL injury. Just as we truly do not appreciate things until they are gone, Miles has appeared to gain a heightened level of appreciation and love for the game due to it being briefly taken away from her.
“I can’t believe that I’m back out there. It’s hard because I think I was at like 618 days (time missed). When you’re in that phase you don’t think it will ever come but out of nowhere you end up back on the court again. It’s an interesting feeling but I’m definitely very grateful.” -Olivia Miles via ‘Got Next with Meghan and Zora’
This appreciation and humility in knowing that this moment is temporary will always lead to more genuine interactions not just in our performances, but in life overall. This all spews out with each dribble, no-look pass, and side-step three that Miles makes. Perhaps this is a lesson that we can all take from the future #1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
