Flow

Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."

~ From “Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Creativity, fulfillment and flow,” TED Talks (Filmed Feb. 2004, Posted Oct. 2008))

 

How does it feel to be in flow?

1. Completely involved in what we are doing—focused, concentrated.
2. A sense of ecstasy—of being outside everyday reality.
3. Greater inner clarity—knowing what needs to be done and how well we are doing.
4. Knowing that the activity is doable—that our skills are adequate to the task.
5. A sense of serenity—no worries about oneself, and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego.
6. Timelessness—thoroughly focused on the present, hours seem to pass by in minutes.
7. Intrinsic motivation—whatever produces flow becomes its own reward.