What if I were to tell you that happiness can be developed as we learn to achieve flow in our lives while learning to embrace change and uncertainty?
According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a prolific psychologist, author and scholar, the key aspect to entering the flow is control: in the flow-like state, we exercise control over the contents of our consciousness rather than allowing ourselves to be passively determined by external forces.
In the book “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” written by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the concept of the flow state is put succinctly as the mental state in which a person is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a feeling of energized focus and enjoyment, meanwhile they lose track of time and of their surroundings.
In response to this state of heightened awareness, focus and cognition, a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction is derived which is triggers feelings of happiness and fulfillment.
“Csikszentmihalyi’s work was like a flashlight in a dark tunnel.”
Jennifer A. Schmidt, formal doctoral student and now associate professor at Michigan State University
“He was the best example of the things that he studied about the life well lived.”
—Jeanne Nakamura, an associate professor and colleague of Csikszentmihalyi’s at Claremont Graduate University
Csikszentmihalyi argues that flow state is a key component of optimal experience, or “flow,” and that it is the key to achieving happiness and fulfillment in life. He explains that flow state is a state in which a person is fully engaged in an activity, and that this engagement is what leads to feelings of happiness and fulfillment.
Csikszentmihalyi also explains that flow state can be achieved through the use of certain techniques, such as setting clear goals, focusing on the present moment, and using feedback to adjust one’s actions. He also states that people can experience flow state when they are challenged just the right amount and when they are able to find meaning in what they are doing.
In summary, “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a book that explores the concept of flow state, a mental state in which a person is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a feeling of energized focus and enjoyment. The author explains how flow state is key to achieving happiness and fulfillment in life, and that it can be achieved through certain techniques such as setting clear goals, focusing on the present moment, and using feedback.
