Finding Flow Finding Flow creativity and optimum functioningcreativity and optimum functioning

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyby Mihaly CsikszentmihalyDo you ever get involved in Do you ever get involved in something so deeply that nothing something so deeply that nothing else seems to matter and you lose else seems to matter and you lose track of time?track of time?

Experience Sampling Method Experience Sampling Method (ESM) is a way to study flow (ESM) is a way to study flow developed at University of Chicagodeveloped at University of Chicago

Virtual filmstrip of person’s daily Virtual filmstrip of person’s daily activities and experiences. activities and experiences.

What is “Flow”?What is “Flow”?

Effortless concentration and Effortless concentration and enjoymentenjoyment

Complete emersion into an activityComplete emersion into an activity Exceptional moments that provide Exceptional moments that provide

flashes of intense living again the dull flashes of intense living again the dull background of everyday life!!!background of everyday life!!!

Flow at WorkFlow at Work

Seems to be more flow on the job than in free time. Seems to be more flow on the job than in free time. Work is much more like a game than most other things we Work is much more like a game than most other things we

do during the day. Clear goals and rules of performance.do during the day. Clear goals and rules of performance. We can’t blame society if our job is meaningless, dull or We can’t blame society if our job is meaningless, dull or

stressful. Always better to do something one feels good stressful. Always better to do something one feels good about than just something that may make us materially about than just something that may make us materially comfortable but emotionally miserable. comfortable but emotionally miserable.

You can transform a routine job into one that makes a You can transform a routine job into one that makes a difference.difference. Can it be done better, faster, more efficiently? What additional Can it be done better, faster, more efficiently? What additional

steps could make my contribution more valuable? steps could make my contribution more valuable? Figure out ways to accomplish more on the job, one would Figure out ways to accomplish more on the job, one would

enjoy working and be more successful.enjoy working and be more successful. Even the mundane job can produce flow.Even the mundane job can produce flow.

Flow at Work (Comments)Flow at Work (Comments)

Imposed because you have to get Imposed because you have to get something donesomething done

Something you get paidSomething you get paid If you don’t have flow at work you If you don’t have flow at work you

need to quit!need to quit!

Flow at PlayFlow at Play

Free time is more difficult to enjoy than work. Free time is more difficult to enjoy than work. Nervous system needs external signals, but has Nervous system needs external signals, but has not had time to adapt to long periods without not had time to adapt to long periods without obstacles and dangers.obstacles and dangers.

Unless one learns how to use this time effectively, Unless one learns how to use this time effectively, having leisure at one’s disposal does not improve having leisure at one’s disposal does not improve the quality of life…the quality of life…

Leisure timeLeisure time Media consumptionMedia consumption ConversationConversation Active leisure (hobbies, making music, going to Active leisure (hobbies, making music, going to

restaurants, movies, sports, exercise)restaurants, movies, sports, exercise)

Flow at PlayFlow at Play

US Teens experience flow at the following rates:US Teens experience flow at the following rates: 13 % of the time watching TV13 % of the time watching TV 35% hobbies35% hobbies 44 percent sports and games44 percent sports and games

Yet they spend four times the amount of time watching TV Yet they spend four times the amount of time watching TV than doing hobbies or sports, Similar true for adults.than doing hobbies or sports, Similar true for adults.

If the person is too tired, anxious or lacks the discipline to If the person is too tired, anxious or lacks the discipline to overcome the initial obstacle, he or she will have to settle for overcome the initial obstacle, he or she will have to settle for something that although less enjoyable is more accessible.something that although less enjoyable is more accessible.

To make the best use of free time, one needs to devote as To make the best use of free time, one needs to devote as much ingenuity and attention to it as one would to one’s job. much ingenuity and attention to it as one would to one’s job. Active leisure that helps a person grow doesn't not come Active leisure that helps a person grow doesn't not come easily.easily.

Only Lack of imagination, or lack of energy, stand in the Only Lack of imagination, or lack of energy, stand in the way of each of us becoming a poet or musician, an way of each of us becoming a poet or musician, an inventor or explorer, an amateur scholar, scientist, inventor or explorer, an amateur scholar, scientist, artist, or collectorartist, or collector

Flow at Play (Comments)Flow at Play (Comments)

Hard to find flow so you have tooo Hard to find flow so you have tooo many choices. At work you usually many choices. At work you usually have just one choice and you work at have just one choice and you work at that – Colemanthat – Coleman

All about finding the right activity… All about finding the right activity… You could find the things you like You could find the things you like that lead to flow…. If I don’t love to that lead to flow…. If I don’t love to run, then there is no flowrun, then there is no flow

I would exercise all the time if.I would exercise all the time if.

Social FlowSocial Flow

Interaction with others is least predictableInteraction with others is least predictable People get depressed when they are alone and revive when they People get depressed when they are alone and revive when they

rejoin the company of othersrejoin the company of others With interaction our attention becomes structured by external With interaction our attention becomes structured by external

demandsdemands Investing energy in relationships is a good way to improve life.Investing energy in relationships is a good way to improve life. The effect of physical pain, monetary loss or social snub depends The effect of physical pain, monetary loss or social snub depends

on how much attention we pay to it.on how much attention we pay to it. Look Suffering straight in the eye, acknowledge and respect its Look Suffering straight in the eye, acknowledge and respect its

presence and ten get busy as soon as possible focusing on things presence and ten get busy as soon as possible focusing on things we choose to focus on.we choose to focus on.

Control attentionControl attention MeditationMeditation PrayerPrayer ExerciseExercise AerobicsAerobics Martial artsMartial arts The important thing is the control one is acquiring over one’s attentionThe important thing is the control one is acquiring over one’s attention

Reorder you life to maximize the Reorder you life to maximize the activities that positively affect your activities that positively affect your moodmood

How many demands could be How many demands could be reduced if we put some energy into reduced if we put some energy into prioritizing, organizing, streamlining prioritizing, organizing, streamlining the routines that take the routines that take

Social FlowSocial Flow

Social Flow (Comments)Social Flow (Comments)

Finding a GoalFinding a Goal Flow is a source of mental energy that focuses Flow is a source of mental energy that focuses

attention and motivates actionattention and motivates action

Constructive or destructive purposesConstructive or destructive purposes Thrill of doing something illegalThrill of doing something illegal Constructive things would make the world a better placeConstructive things would make the world a better place

Find a goal to enjoy life and be responsibleFind a goal to enjoy life and be responsible Buddhists advise “act always as if the future of the Buddhists advise “act always as if the future of the

universe depended on what you did, while universe depended on what you did, while laughing at yourself for thinking that whatever you laughing at yourself for thinking that whatever you do makes any difference.”do makes any difference.”

Focus consciousness on tasks of everyday life Focus consciousness on tasks of everyday life when we act in the fullness of the flow experience, when we act in the fullness of the flow experience, we are also building a bridge to the future of the we are also building a bridge to the future of the universe.universe.