flow the psychology of optimal experience by mihaly csikszentmihalyi

The discovery was that the best moments did not happen by chance, according to the whim of external events, but could reasonably be predicted to occur when a speciﬁc activity was undertaken.

They were required to write down exactly what they were doing and the feelings that the activity produced. You feel part of something larger.Ĭsikszentmihalyi’s research began not by looking at the nature of happiness per se, but by asking the question: “When are people most happy?” That is, what exactly are we doing when we feel enjoyment or fulﬁllment? Finding this out included buzzing people on a pager at random points through a week. “You know that what you need to do is possible to do, even though difficult, and sense of time disappears. The making of meaning: Cultivating purpose + the meaning of meaning.Work as flow: Bring about full engagement-for yourself and those you lead.The flow of thought: Lifelong learning, consciousness, science, and mastery.The conditions of flow: The eight steps to “Flow”, and how to bring it about for yourself.Enjoyment + quality of life: The elements that dictate the triggers of joy and pleasure.The anatomy of consciousness: How Flow brings order to everything.Happiness revisited: When are people most happy?.And when the ﬂow episode is over, one feels more ‘together’ than before, not only internally but with respect to other people and the world in general.” - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Thoughts, intentions, feelings, and all the senses are focused on the same goal. “Flow helps to integrate the self because in that state of deep concentration consciousness is unusually well ordered. That healthy human beings ﬁnd order pleasing is a clue to its intrinsic value, and to its role in the creation of happiness. The bringing of order to consciousness, “control of the mind,” is therefore the key to happiness. “Flow” is much more than just a practical guide for leaders - it’s essential. Rather than being idle, doing what you love is a pathway to greater meaning, happiness, and a self of higher complexity. Csikszentmihalyi says that it is best to think about the universe in terms of order and chaos (entropy). C” as I’m sure he’s known as in many circles - has redefined the way we approach “a life worth living” in the modern world.Ĭsikszentmihalyi calls these meaningful moments that make life worth living, moments of “optimal experience,” also known as the “Flow” state.Īnd through various case studies, Csikszentmihalyi delves deeply into how we can achieve “Flow” in our personal and professional lives in order to lead happier, more meaningful lives. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the author of Flow, is sorta like the Godfather of positive psychology … Hailed by researchers and positive psychologists from every corner of the globe - “Mr. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Flow the psychology of optimal experience by mihaly csikszentmihalyi