![]() Selflessness: Your sense of self dissolves, which includes any self-critical inner-commentary.Merging of Action and Awareness: When you achieve flow, you become “one” with what you’re doing, acting in a way that feels automatic and spontaneous. ![]() Absorption: In this stage of flow state, you become hyper-focused on the present moment.Unsurprisingly, research has found that flow experiences are linked to: Abraham Maslow’s description of self-actualized behavior involves making the optimal use of one’s potential, which studies have linked to flow state. Flow is mostly intrinsically motivated, meaning the task itself is a big part of the enjoyment.įlow is “an activity that produces such experiences is so gratifying that people are willing to do it for its own sake, with little concern for what they will get out of it, even when it is difficult, or dangerous.” Consciously integrating flow state is a beautiful tonic to the time-obsessed, always switched-on fast-paced culture.Īnyone on the path of personal growth will benefit from flow state, too. Benefits of achieving flow stateĪs Csikszentmihalyi writes, “one of the most frequently mentioned dimensions of the flow experience is that, while it lasts, one is able to forget all the unpleasant aspects of life.” Although it’s tempting to see the act of achieving flow purely as a productivity tool, research into flow has shown its positive impact on overall wellbeing. Csikszentmihalyi discovered that, unlike switching off or relaxing, the most enjoyable experiences usually involve some degree of challenge and effort. It’s crucial for deep work, high levels of creativity, and productivity. It’s the experience of full concentration, hyperfocus, and attention on a task. The common metaphor of being carried by water, or creativity “flowing out,” of feeling “in flow”, inspired Csikszentmihalyi to name these experiences the “state of flow.” You might equate the state of flow to being in the zone. Clearly, experiencing flow can happen anywhere, any time. Eventually, Csikszentmihalyi explored more diverse demographics - from Italian farmers to Navaho sheepherders - all of whom spoke of similar experiences when performing at their best. Some forgot to eat, drink or sleep due to their level of immersion in their work. ![]() He moved to the US to study and was particularly inspired by artists and creatives, who appeared to have access to a type of inner-fulfillment from their work, that didn’t require wealth or other conventional means of happiness.Ĭsikszentmihalyi began to research experts from all fields, from poets to chess players, to surgeons and composers, who began sharing similar experiences of a trance-like state of complete absorption, one of ecstasy and timelessness, one in which you are completely involved in your task, have almost no self-consciousness about your actions, and lose track of everything outside of your focus. As the title implies, Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced: cheeks-sent-me high) was driven to the field of psychology to unlock the secret to what makes people happy in their day-to-day lives.īorn in Hungary, Csikszentmihalyi was affected by seeing those around him attempt to repair their lives following World War II. The term was first applied in 1975 by the pioneer of flow literature, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and popularised by his book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990).
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