Quotations Weblog

I’ve just finished reading Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It has left me actively recognizing flow in every activity that I enjoy. I’m surprised at how often I find myself in flow doing every day things like cleaning the house, crocheting, reading or writing entries.

For flow to occur, the following things need to happen:

• We are working on tasks that we have a chance of completing.
• We are able to concentrate on what we are doing.
• The task has clear goals.
• The task provides immediate feedback.
• It is deeply and effortlessly involving. It removes us from worries and frustrations of everyday life.
• It allows us to exercise a sense of control over our actions.
• Concern for the self disappears, yet the sense of self emerges stronger after the experience.
• The sense of time is altered.

I have found myself experiencing flow while exercising, playing video games and while listening to good music. It is such and enjoyeable experience that it has been thought to be the key to happiness.

Here are my favorite quotations from this book:

For all the quotations from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi:

• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Quotes – The Quotations Page