Flow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjjohn/2679781930/in/photostream/

The Flow Experience

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

His Work and Research

Prof Csikszentmihalyi Born in Croatia, this Hungarian Psychology professor at the University of Chicagois known for his studies on creativity andhappiness. He is one of the notableResearchers in the field ofpositive psychology.

Perfect Balance

Factors determining FLOWThe challenge level matches the skill level. A high challenge with low skill produces anxiety but with high skill might produce FLOW if other conditions are optimal.

Eight Optimal Factors for FLOW

Necessary Criteria for Flow

• The people interviewed by Csikszentmihalyi all spoke about these components

• More than 8,000 subjects, from all walks of life

• Remember these 8 and apply them

Clarity of Goals

No conflicts or confusion about what you have to do. What are the impediments to the clarity of goals? (Unconscious sabotage? “Fear of success”)How can clarity of goals make our activities/work more satisfying?How can you make your goals clear?

1. CLARITY OF GOALS

2. Immediate & Clear FeedbackGives constant information about performance

Know immediately how to alter performance for optimum results

Enhances the focus on the activity

If this is not present, we might relax or become disinterested in the goal/activity

What experience do you love and engage in where you have immediate and constant feedback?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrencountyoh/3730376856/in/photostream/

3. Challenge = Skill

When skill level meets challenge, we begin to love the activity, even if at first we did not.

How do you feel when the task/challenges appears to be impossible?

Is it always impossible? How can you best gauge your skill

level (realistically) without selling yourself short?

Challenge = Skill

http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/3942293740/

4. FOCUS IS ALL

5. Escape into the present

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjjohn/2259210770/in/photostream/

6. Choose the Edge for Optimal Growth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adulau/5723190948/ Alexandre Dulaunoy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apgroner/509530558/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Self Merges

7. Transcendence

Absorption into the activity

Loosening of the ego consciousness

Brain can only process 120 bits of information per second and total focus will often result in a reduced “body sense”

Forget yourself to find yourself: recall the flow experience and the sense of self-esteem is improved

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjordan/1501451576/

8. Time is Transformed

Jjjohn’s photostream on Flickr

Time wraps itself around your experience. So much is packed into the flow moment; a few seconds might seem like many minutes; many hours might feel like a few minutes.

jjjohn’s photostream on Flickr

What Will You Do to Cultivate Flow?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davemorris/39862978/sizes/z/in/photostream

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Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

• People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.

• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990