Flow State – Positive Psychology by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Flow State – Positive Psychology by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. A prolific writer, psychologist and university lecturer, he coined the concept of “flow” and was one of the leading representatives of positive psychology. Let’s take a deeper look at the personality of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his life…
Throughout his career, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has made a major contribution to psychology and helped to explore the mechanisms of creativity, concentration and personal motivation. After spending his childhood and youth in Italy, he emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-two and studied at the University of Chicago, where he returned as a lecturer and headed the Department of Psychology.
The stream of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has always been interested in the mechanisms that drive creativity, motivation and engagement. His research has shown that there is an “ideal” state in which we are fully focused on an activity: this is flow, or flow, the concept that gave rise to the title of Csikszentmihalyi’s most important work.
Flow is the key to finding fulfilment and happiness, unlocking your full potential and achieving a significant improvement in your life in many aspects. When we are in this state of consciousness, we are actually much more productive, because we do not think about how time passes, we do not allow ourselves to be distracted by external stimuli, but invest our energy in the goal we want to achieve.
This is what happens to a musician on stage, an actor during a performance, athletes, and creative people such as writers or artists. Most of us have experienced flow at least once, when we are completely immersed in our work.
The Flow theory has become a true classic of modern psychology and has influenced many influential figures in the arts, business and politics, such as former US President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Csikszentmihalyi’s theory also helped Jimmy Johnson, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, prepare for the 1993 Super Bowl. Ideas about flow were later explored in other books by Csikszentmihalyi, such as Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention and Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engaging with Everyday Life.
Flow State: the state of flow 3 requirements to experience it in your life
Have you ever lost track of time while doing something challenging and exciting at the same time? Then it means that you have already experienced the so-called Flow State. In this article, we’ll find out what it is and what you need to do to have this experience.
Flow State: how I started to experience the state of flow
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the “father” of the concept of the state of flow, describes it as the moment when the mind and body, completely absorbed in a certain action, enter a state of harmonious concentration.
Those who feel this way feel caught up in an activity that pulls them along like a current.
Suddenly, the outside world ceases to exist.
Noise stops. External pressure is released.
No more distractions or negative thoughts.
There are no more urgent matters.
It is impossible to devote ourselves to anything else because this activity completely captures us, and we seize the moment. We dominate the negative.
In this true state of grace, we feel more than alive.
The pleasures we experience come from the action itself, not from expectations, results or subsequent thoughts.
What results can we achieve
Finally, in this state of flow, we achieve our best results.
Thus, flow can be experienced in different areas of life.
Indeed: in order to live a full, happy life and satisfy one’s need for self-realisation, a person must strive to experience it in as many areas as possible.
The state of flow, however, has 6 very specific characteristics, and 3 of them are requirements to achieve it.
This is what we will talk about at the end of the article so that you can feel your own…
Flow State: 5 characteristics of the flow state
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the state of Flow.
Some people confuse this very specific state of mind with mere concentration, and some even with meditation.
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In fact, as already mentioned, the state of Flow has very specific characteristics: knowing them will help you to experience it as quickly as possible (and as often as possible).
1. The complete absence of distractions
When we try to concentrate, we must actively try to eliminate distractions.
Conversely, when we enter the state of Flow, we are so absorbed that we simply ignore any distractions.
The difference is subtle, but significant.
2. Calm control
In the state of flow, there is no trace of worry or anxiety.
We are not afraid to make a mistake and make a bad impression. We feel good, calm and confident.
This happens because the mind, fully engaged in the present moment, muffles the constant internal chatter that usually accompanies us: we stop thinking and just be and do.
3. Lack of judgement
When we enter the state discovered by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, our fearful thoughts, full of judgement and criticism, cease to exist.
Pervaded by this mental silence, we lose awareness of ourselves.
No, don’t worry, no fainting!
In the state of Flow, you will be more present than ever: you will simply be immersed in the action with your body and soul and for a few minutes forget about the fantastic film in which your mind keeps you caged.
4. Time to destroy negative attitudes
In fact, when we enter the flow, we don’t know exactly how long the experience will last.
In fact, this is one of the most typical and in some ways interesting features of Flow: we perceive time differently; depending on the action, minutes seem to pass slower or faster, but always in a positive and pleasant way.
5. Ways to cultivate our happiness
The satisfaction of doing what we are passionate about is pure, independent of rewards, prizes and subsequent recognition.
We perform this action guided by our deepest desire, not by a sense of obligation or future expectations. That’s why flow is one of the most effective ways to cultivate our happiness (you can find the other 5 ways, supported by science, in this article). So, these are the main characteristics of the flow state.
How can we achieve this state of ecstasy these days?
Well, there are no magic formulas or simple tricks to achieve a state of flow.
But not all hope is lost.
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We can indeed recreate in our day what is the most fertile ground for this state of mind to flourish. To do so, however, we must meet these three requirements
3 requirements for the flow state
I will never get tired of repeating it: learn to set relevant, specific and ambitious goals.
We can only find Flow by doing what interests us, what we understand and what challenges us.
…and this last characteristic of our goals is particularly important, in fact the second requirement for creating favourable ground for the state of the Flow…
B) A balance between the challenges to be faced and our individual skills
Simple activities that do not test our skills make us apathetic.
Performing tasks that are too simple can make us feel relaxed, but also bored.
On the other hand, if we don’t have the necessary skills to perform certain actions, we feel stressed.
Only by finding the right balance between complexity and a sense of mastery can we strive to enter the state of Flow.
This specific aspect is perfectly explained in Professor Csikszentmihalyi’s TED talk:
C) Immediate and specific feedback
Whether they are internal, i.e. emotions or body signals, or external, feedback is a message that gives us guidance on how we are doing in achieving our goal and functions as positive reinforcement.
Activities that bring us into a state of flow tend to give us immediate and certain feedback.
In short, the more we act, the better, more fulfilled and more competent we feel.
These are the 3 basic requirements for entering the state of flow.
Knowing them will help you develop them. Speaking of which.
Conclusions and a challenge for you…
I hope that this article on the state of flow has stimulated you to delve deeper into this topic, but most of all I hope that you will start seeking the state of flow in your own time.
So here’s my challenge to you (actually, two challenges!):
- What hobby, sport or activity has helped you experience the state of flow as I described it earlier? If you have identified one, think about how you can spend more time with it this week.
- How can you change the way you work or study to turn your commitments into opportunities to enter the state of Flow as often as possible? (Hint: think again about the 3 requirements for entering the state of Flow!)
We wish you to act in the flow – Dushevnyjlekar.com🧡
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