FlowSome people become so deeply focused on an activity, they experience an almost euphoric state of joy and pleasure in the process. Time seems to stand still. They report feeling a sense of vitality and are highly alert and feel as if they are performing to the best of their ability.
According to psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, they are most likely experiencing ‘Flow,’ a state of deep focus that occurs when the individual is engaged in a challenging task that demands concentration and commitment. But in order for ‘Flow’ to occur, the individual’s skill level must balanced to the challenge level of the task, and the challenge must have clear goals and provide immediate feedback.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was born September 29, 1934, in Fiume, Italy and immigrated to the United States at the age of 22. He is noted for his work in the study of happiness, creativity, subjective well-being, and fun, but is best known for his research on Flow Theory.
He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and the director of the Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont California. The QLRC is a non-profit research institute that studies "positive psychology,” or human strengths, such as optimism, creativity, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility.
Professor Csikszentmihalyi received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1965. He is a member of the American Academy of Education, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Leisure Studies.
Quotes from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
To know one-self is the first step toward making flow a part of one's entire life. But just as there is no free lunch in the material economy, nothing comes free in the psychic one. If one is not willing to invest psychic energy in the internal reality of consciousness, and instead squanders it in chasing external rewards, one loses mastery of one's life, and ends up becoming a puppet of circumstances.
Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.
It does not seem to be true that work necessarily needs to be unpleasant. It may always have to be hard, or at least harder than doing nothing at all. But here is ample evidence that work can be enjoyable, and that indeed, it is often the most enjoyable part of life.
“If the next generation is to face the future with zest and self-confidence, we must educate them to be original as well as competent”
If we agree that the bottom line of life is happiness, not success, then it makes perfect sense to say that it is the journey that counts, not reaching the destination.
Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.
It does not seem to be true that work necessarily needs to be unpleasant. It may always have to be hard, or at least harder than doing nothing at all. But here is ample evidence that work can be enjoyable, and that indeed, it is often the most enjoyable part of life.
“If the next generation is to face the future with zest and self-confidence, we must educate them to be original as well as competent”
If we agree that the bottom line of life is happiness, not success, then it makes perfect sense to say that it is the journey that counts, not reaching the destination.
. . . Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990.
As you reflect on the words of Professor Csikszentmihalyi, please consider the following questions and post your response.
- Describe a time in your life when you experienced ‘Flow’ as it is described by Csikszentmihalyi.
- What circumstances contributed to the ‘Flow’ experience?
- Having experienced “Flow” do you feel that this is something that can be taught?
4 comments:
Debrayh,
This was a nice synthesis and helpful in understanding the concepts discussed.
1. Researching education of illegal immigrants.
2. Interest in the subject, shock at the details of the subject, multitude of resources.
3. I think it is something that can be ignited, supported, and encouraged but not taught.
1. Until last year, Easter had always been at our home. I noticed through the years that my approach to the meal changed. First I was quite rigid with a schedule of when and how each dish should be prepared. Now, I could be working on multiple dishes at once because there might be an overlap of ingredients for certain dishes. And now I just know of when and how dishes should be prepared. I suppose the same could be said for most if not all the meals I prepare.
2. Food shopping - I get lost with all the wonderful ingredients that could come together into something fantastic. The smells, techniques, taste testing, sounds, and the opportunity to create all contribute to the experience.
3. I think that flow occurs through experiences, trying, risk-taking and perhaps repetition/practice, not necessarily by having learned or being taught how to flow.
1. I experience flow when I play basketball. It is very exhilarating for me and time always goes by so fast.
2. The circumstances that contribute to the flow experience include being precise, quick, and logical. When I concentrate on all of these factors and try to do my best I enjoy myself and forget about everything else.
3. I do not feel that flow is something that can be taught. Mainly because someone may not experience flow doing the same activities that I do.
I concur with the other commenters that flow canot be taught, But, I think that on an individual basis, a person can be led to a state of flow. If I know someone very well, like a child, I think that I could carefully orchestrate a sequence of events that would culminate in a flow experience for the child. I'm not sure that I ever accomplished that in my own children.
It certainly would be very difficult to accomplish in a large group. I wonder if it might happen for devout followers of some religious, social, or business leaders.
Post a Comment