Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes flow as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
The intensity of the flow experience is one we all recognize as a creative one that goes beyond everyday consciousness. One reference is being “in the zone”. Csikszentmihalyi lists conditions necessary for the occurrence and continuation of flow experience:
- clear goals and feedback;
- balance between challenges and skills;
- action and awareness merged;
- concentration on task;
- sense of potential control;
- loss of self-consciousness;
- altered sense of time;
- autotelic (self-rewarding) experience.
The Hustler – Being in the flow state
Here’s a move clip circa 1961 with Paul Newman talking about being in the flow state.
Tony posted a video of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in a TED talk explaining his studies about the roots of happiness and the concept of flow for which he is famous.
‘What makes human beings happy?’ Is the question he was looking for an answer to. Flow is his answer to the question
In our normal experience he looked at where we feel really happy. “Ecstacy in Greek meant to stand to the side of something. A step into an alternative reality. Such an intense experience that it feels like you don’t exist.” When you are in a state of flow, you are able to face high challenges using a high level of skills.
The entire concept of flow is really intriguing, at least to me. What do you think?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Creativity, fulfillment and flow
In Buddhism, there is a form of meditation called samatha bhavana, which can lead to blissful states, like flow. In ‘samatha’ the mind becomes like a still, clear pool completely free from disturbance and anger, and ready to mirror on its surface the nature of things as they really are, m which is hidden from ordinary knowledge by the restlessness of desire and craving. You meditate until you attain jhana. Jhana is a meditative state of profound stillness and concentration in which the mind becomes fully immersed and absorbed in the chosen object of attention. It is the cornerstone in the development of right concentration.
Csikszentmihalyi illustrates that creativity is the central source of meaning in our lives and for better or for worse the planet’s future is closely tied to human creativity. Our capacity for being in the flow and ability to face higher challenges and succeed in what we do will in large part directly affect the planet’s future. – Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention.
No matter what walk of life we are in or what we may find ourselves completely absorbed in – we may be enjoying a flow experience. What do you think about flow?
that sense of “being in the flow” is so special…that’s how I feel when creating the “pages” that I make. Recently, I’ve been more able to access that sese of calm when not creating…when sitting. I was helped by really good ideas from a meditation seminar I went to recently by Rick Hanson, Buddha’s Brain author. There are very good ideas in his slides sets from that day for how to calm and go deeper when sitting….here’s a link to that slide set, if you are interested…a bit slow to open…. http://www.rickhanson.net/files/slides/SRMC_NofA_Mar2012.pdf
Hi there,
Most of my flow experiences have occurred when I’m creating art and a fewer number have have taken place when I’m writing. I learned how to meditate in college and I’m now headed towards my retirement years. I do prefer sitting meditation but I also have a walking meditation and mindfulness practice too. P.S. That’s an interesting set of slides. Thanks for the PDF link.
Hi…well, I’ve been happily “in flow” creating some charts to help guide myself along toward positive choices…but, flow was interurpted…. : ) I’m stuck on one aspect and thought you might have ideas. I put the charts on a post last evening and this morning, but they look blurry…both within the post and as pdf linked copies. They look clear on my computer as I’m making them and view them, but not on the blog…on the blog they appear blurry. They do, however, seem to print clearly. Do you have any idea how to improve the clarity of those charts? (btw…I’m using the charts to help myself think of activities for when I retire…I’m concerned I don’t know how to “not work” at a job. (but that Quiet book is really helping with ideas about that!) So…blurry fonts ..any ideas? http://pocketperspectives.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/brainstorming-strategy-chart-for-faith-in-a-good-outcome/
Hi there,
I’m using Firefox 11 and I do not see blurry images. I like to keep this blog focused on personal development topics and the other on blogging tips Try clearing your browser cache and cookies http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=32050 and then please see my other blog and particularly this post in it > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2012/03/26/cropper-or-proper-image-preparation-2/
thank you so much for the suggestions….I’ll trying looking into those ideas. I also have 2 blogs that I keep somewhat separate. On a happy note, your advice for images definitely helped me with my own personal development…. patience, persistence, concentration… and creating readable materials to help me move along that path… : ) thanks again
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This moment, the now is all that matters. Like children we have to immerse ourselves and thoroughly enjoy whatever we do. Thanks for the wonderful post!
I’ms so glad you enjoyed this post. You are welcome.
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Perhaps we over anaylyze, overthink, and and forget this is not the thing itself. It is simply awareness. Awareness that transports one for a while,’ beyond the brutality, thought, and suffering imposed by Nature and the conditions of our lives. In other simplier words…we live… we live in spite of everything. Namaste.
From 8 lists you mentioned above, may I add just 1 point again?
Yup, we should do what we love, but if this is not possible then the try to fallin’ in love of what we are doing today.
My first visit, nice to meet you TT.
If you have free time, visit my blog.
A nice, well worded post…..inspiring and motivating.You are doing a great service by sharing your valuable insights.
God bless.
This was a real mind opening post TITI I had never thought about it this way. I recently got round to starting a novel I’ve been planning on writing for some time and when I sat down to write it the next time I looked up at the clock it was 8 hours later and I was ten chapters in. Now when I tried to get out the chair that was a different story my back had completely gone on me, lol, I now have a prolapsed disk to add to my problems but it was amazing to think you could loose that amount of time through the creative process I guess I was smack in the middle of the flow.
Hey TT–I really related to this post because I have been in the midst of one of the most amazing journeys I have ever experienced (in a life full of them). I have really finished my memoir–completely. It has been revised, polished, and is finally ready to go. This is one of the most amazing creative journeys I’ve ever had the privilege to go through and I cannot wait for the next step. I wanted to thank you for all your support throughout it all–and then here you have the perfect post!
Nice seeing you again, TT–I’ve finally come up for a little air!
Melinda
Yay! Your book is ready to go. I’m so happy for you Melinda. You are an amazing courageous and creative woman with a heart as big as the universe, and I’m so delighted to know you and to call you friend. I’m excited about feeling the book in my hands, seeing the words on the pages and toting it around with me as I read it.
May love and peace be with you aleays,
TT
I want everyone who submitted a comment to know that I valued your comment. I’m extremely busy at work right now and I have company visiting from far away. So although I normally do reply to each and every comment received I must apologize for not doing so this time.
I have had many flow experiences and most occurred when I was immersed in my painting, singing, drumming and/or nature observation and sketching.
Thank you so much for your comments.
I read this through a few times and then sat and thought about how I could comment.
This post has opened up something new for me – and I love that, I love exploring and learning new things and concepts.
I have previoulsy published a post on Flow and Congruence on my blog, where I related how important it has been for me to move to an area of work where I feel my integrity isn’t compromised. If I am happy in what I am doing, I tend to do it well.
But your post takes this onto a different level, where the ‘flow’ is almost driven from a meditative subconscious and when we are ‘in the flow’ we loose ourselves to it completely. Am I interpreting that correctly?
I suppose for me, I get into the ‘flow’ most of all when I am out walking with my two little dogs every day. I walk for about 3 miles and seldom see another person. The walk in the beautiful countryside and through the woods where we live has become a form of meditation for me and often, without any effort, an intuituve thought will come.
I feel energised by having read your post and need to spend some time reflecting on this. Thank you for having written something so thought-provoking.
Smiles and blessings.
Hello there,
You asked:
Yes! that’s what it’s all about. I wouldn’t be surprised if to hear that you experience being in the zone or in the flow when you write some of your blog articles as they are so beautifully written. I’d love to go dog walking with you and will now think of you when my dog walks me every day. :)
Thanks so much for reading, reflecting, and for sharing too.
Love,
TiTi
When one can get into the flow it is the most productive state of being that I have yet experienced. It is one where I am at peace and experiencing full contentment without actively thinking about my existence. I just am.
It’s rejuvenating to be able to let go and just be in the now moment.
Great post. I love the concept of not fighting our authentic self in life. When we do the things that reflect who we truly are we connect with our deepest self and enjoy life as we were meant to experience it. It’s sort of like a bird being excellent at being a bird because that’s what he or she is. When we live from our deepest self time doesn’t matter because all is joy.
@Guy
Thank you for sharing that — well said. :)
I’ve loved being in the flow at various times. Unfortunately those times seem fewer & farther between these days…
Hello Lana,
It’s always good to hear from you. :) Ahh … but that next flow experience could be but a heartbeat away.
Love and peace,
TiTi
Experiencing the flow when task focus, whole brain/body engagement simultaneously happen, can be incredible. Transcending just for a short time, are experiences one hopes at least several times per year.
I recall doing hand calligraphy (steel nib pen style) and occasionally spelling the words wrong, because I started to fall in love with shape of the letters I was creating!!
Or oil painting a section where suddenly all the brush, mind, eye seem to speed long with colour, paint texture/viscosity.
Or cycling along and suddenly those hills is not that difficult after all on that day.
It is an enormous euphoria one would love to bottle up and preserve. To tap into such experiences does require some initial skill development of whatever you are doing/want to do and making sure there is time /that you don’t have a pressing deadline on that time of day. You must allow yourself to be free for those times. That includes letting go of brain stresses and worries.
Your descriptions are evocative for me and I do agree that at the core of the experience is freedom. Becoming totally immersed in the now moment happens and creativity flows if we let go of everything except what we are doing and simply go with the flow. That isn’t going to happen is we are preoccupied with anything else. The focus must be single pointed.
A lovely post. What could be more important than flow? It seems to me we need to feel a compulsion and follow that inner compulsion to experience “flow” in the larger and more meaningful sense you are considering here.
But the compulsion or impulse has to come from the right source doesn’t it? a pure source within us, where we tap our highest vision.As we follow THAT and don’t let anything stop us following our inner ruth I think wonders do appear.
Very well said in a big picture way. I have had flow experiences while gardening, painting, singing, sketching, dancing, horse back riding, etc. I can’t say that I was following my highest vision during those times. I can say that I was very much in the now moment.
Interesting post. But isn’t happiness subjective and ephemeral and that these two qualities make it all a delusion? Just a thought.
If you want to add ‘delusion’ to the qualities of happiness, BU, why not? Nothing changes. Except the integrity of the word ‘delusion’ which has its own meanings. Happiness is an emotion, like pain, real without (yours or mine) being experienced by others. Am I making sense?
There’s a special feeling that comes along with being in the flow and perhaps happiness isn’t the correct word to adequately describe it.
Hello, this is a nice article on “flow”, so important for creation (art). You could also check out “The high price of materialism” by Tim Kasser and books by Winifred Gallagher, such as “The power of place” and “House thinking”, but especially “Rapt”. All very interesting reads on concentrating on what really matters for our happiness.
As I always say, giving and receiving is important, so make happiness happen.
Dionysios
Thanks for those book recommendations. I’ll put them on my reading list also. I have visited your blog and know you are departing for Spain today. Travel safety and have the time of your life. :)
Hi,
I would like to listen to the clip by Csikszentmihalyi on flow when I’m home from work later. I didn’t see a Follow button, but I’ll send myself the link. You have a nice blog. I think we have similar interests!
~Donna
Hi Donna,
Thanks do much for letting me know we have similar interest. As soon as I get another break from being with my company I’ll visit your blog. :)
Just received news of your “other” (to me) blog via BlogCatalog. Very exciting topic and I look forward to exploring it. And thank you for sharing the clip from The Hustler, awesome on various levels.
Well now you see both blogs and two different focuses. I hope you enjoy both. Thanks so much for the visit.
thanks for the nice posting, it makes me remember what i’ve read about thus topic a few years ago :)
You’re welcome. :)
Hi Angie,
Thanks for bringing this post to my attention, its very interesting.
There’s a nice new cogsci book by Brian Bruya called Effortless Attention that you might want to look up.
I teach effortless attention as part of my Alexander Technique sessions, though I call it ‘unconcentrating’. If you enjoy meditation then you should look up A.T., it’s a lot like an alert meditation in activity.
Keep up the good posts ;)
James
Hi James,
Thanks for the book suggestion. I will put it on my reading list. :)
One of the greatest themes for the classes who exist above the painful survival level. My own input is that for the sake of the human race’s survival a distinction has to be made and promoted between activity related to creation that can be perceived AS EXTERNAL by others, and activity that is born of, and can be perceived ONLY by oneself.
The musician, dancer, artist, poet, athlete, blogger, inventor, scientist, takes from outside his/her head, and creates something with relevance to others via the physical world. Stuff flows. Happiness happens. If happiness comes from the closed circuits of your mind or from a blind belief in the closed circuits of another mind only, the situation is capable of manipulation by a powerful few, and their interests do not include your fulfilment, or peace on earth. The proof is written in history.
interesting vids
I love flow…when able to calm down and let it come.
Thanks for reminding…
You’re welcome.
great article – makes for some really interesting reading. flow and time must be cousins or more closely related than that. just as well too. cheers
When you are in the flow you aren’t conscious of time. :)