Mihály Csíkszentmihályi and his "flow" theory

http://www.damnilikethat.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/the-secret.jpg

I guess from his his studies, the more time people spend in the 'flow,' the happier they are. that's good if you're into happy, I guess. I think I'm more into the hunger/satisfaction cycle.

Good morning all!

I’m sitting here with my cup of coffee contemplating my life in the last couple of days. Wow, is all I can say. I love doing this blog as it’s opened ME up to so many possibilities, and I hope I can share that with you. To wake up in the morning excited about all the things that can and will unfold. THAT’S life!

It’s also the Law of Attraction. I have really been working with setting clear intentions daily and what a difference. I also have been setting aside time to review and use the tools that I have. Re-watching The Secret Movie. Listening to some Abraham-Hicks CD’s. Taking the time to read some of the incredible materials that I have. I did a rather long post yesterday called Money is an Illusion that was written David Cameron Gikandi. POWERFUL material and I encourage you all to read it a couple of times.

You see, so many of us DO have resources readily available to us…but we just sort of slide by not using them! WHY? Maybe it’s being overwhelmed by the amount of information in this day and age? Maybe it’s fear? What would it be like if I really DID start attracting those things I want? What will change?

I’m reminded of a line from the movie, Contact: “Small steps, Ellie…small steps.” You don’t have to do it ALL overnight. Just take a few moments each day and do something just for you. Set a positive intention for the day. Look up at the sky and enjoy the cloud shapes. See the sunset. Smile at a stranger. Go visit some of the wonderful blogs that are out here in blog-land. Whatever makes YOU feel good.

By reaching for that good feeling you will attract more.

Blessings on all your hopes and dreams.

Nicky Lo-Fi

"blog-land"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mih%C3%A1ly_Cs%C3%ADkszentmih%C3%A1lyi

(bastard to type)

I love this guy. I was reading a couple of his books as a couple of the things I was writing about were very similar to his flow theory. It's great, because you can clearly see the applications in teaching, learning, sports psychology, a whole range of things.

Apparently his friends call him "Mike".

i think the "flow" is a legit thing, and i think the secret is crap.

I biggest thing I got from reading him was to be conscious for the amount of effort I am giving, and also for the feedback from that effort.

I'm afraid to ask for this author by name at the bookstore.

challenge themselves with a goal that is appropriate for their ability (not too easy or too hard). - I had to clean off my desk today. Receipts and shit were piling up.
Then they put a conscious effort into achieving that goal. - I hardened up and just did it.
Being absorbed in the process of working toward the goal is what he calls being in the flow. - The flow sucked balls.

I hardened up and just did it.

botw

i am totally making a breakfast burrito right now.

with epic flow

colt brennan needs to find his flow bad right now.

i like being in the zone is that the same as the flow?

lol DAWGS ATE YR FLOW

hey wow colt brennan is play against a real football team for the first time in his life and it isnt working out

^ @ grdaddy

make ethan stop hating company flow

Has any female rapper ever boasted about having a "menstrual flow"?

I love Flow theory.

"dont count Hawaii out yet."

*brennan gets sacked*

what abou this? what about this? what about this?
can a person's sensibilities so subtley change over time that they don't even notice it. Is that what gets us into 'ruts'

look, let's get one thing straight here. my girlfriend is very much pro-escapism, and I am devoted to her. so nobody is preaching to any of you cunts to stop masturbating all day. fucking insecure cunts ;~)

what

Flow ... in games! This is fairly awesome, actually:

http://intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/flowing/

*masturbates all day*

I cried at the end of the Michigan/Florida game today.

I mean, don't get distracted by the "happiest" part -- the banal common-sense point is that there's a level of engagement with a task where you're ideally engaged and challenged (not bored by easiness or frustrated by difficulty), and that, like, helps create a sense of well-being. (Even four-year-olds know this, really)

The bulk of the Seligman "positive psychology" stuff either consists of obvious points like that or else just total bullshit, I think

four-year-olds might know it, but I know a lot of 20-somethings that think it's not sexy to challenge themselves enough.

I don't think folks automatically stay in that corridor between anxiety and boredom, or know intuitively how to.

basicly the theory takes zen meditation into the psychology fields,isnt it?

Yes. It's not the first time either. It's essentially a rebranding of zen - but then, zen was a rebranding of ch'an, which was arguably an adapation of taoism, and so on. I suppose there's nothing wrong with refreshing the language from time to time.

uh you guys no sorry

^^^

nothing's wrong.it is also used in cognitive psychology practice,and others.
the original source is hindu budhism.

some western philosophers and thinkers also used budhism for their own good targets.
(Schopenhauer,Musil etc..)
the good practicalism of it is very appealing.

show me the zen teachings that say concentrate on tasks of middling difficulty and be reasonabley content

really i have no idea why you would even think to equate the two

also there is no such thing as hindu buddhism (unless you ask a hindu in which case they might say oh sure buddhism is just part of hinduism - but according to buddhists theres no such thing)

jhoshea bringin the diamond-sharp mind.

wherever you go - there you are...
the "middling difficulty" and other stuff is the extra added by Csíkszentmihályi.
the basics are the same:
"eat rice wash bowl" zen

jhoshea havin no idea why hes reading this inane thread when he could be sleeping

g'nite big hoos the zensitter

"The flow state also implies a kind of focused attention, and indeed, it has been noted that mindfulness meditation, yoga, and martial arts seem to improve a person's capacity for flow. Among other benefits, all of these activities train and improve attention.

"

btw the two people on this thread whove actually studied and practiced buddhism disagree zeno

you know christians meditate, they wash bowls - maybe its like christianity or jogging or whatever

whatever.you are the master...
i've studied some zen, and i don't know much about the "flow" theory,except from this thread and wikipedia.
it's just an association.don't take it too serious.

eh yah no biggie its just pet peeve of mine how "zen" appeals to western intellectual type dudes cause of the inscrutable sleekness or maybe just cause the name sounds cool - anyway hindered by their fascination such dudes never bother to understand the meaning - they do bother to talk endless shit tho

I would like to add that it's not self-help or any kind of technique or anything like that. He just studied a bunch of people that were pleased with their lives and found this in common.

I never thought about this in relation to zen, which I've only read a little about, but have tried to practice while high my times.

this might be a stretch as far as the zen connection, but if taken to an extreme, being in the flow might keep you from lasting feelings of desire. maybe it would help keep you from wanting things you can't or won't want to work for?

"Decide on a challenge that's going to be REAL EASY and you'll be happy"

it's a gusher folks!

you should also read his work on the "full theory", where if you eat, you feel less hungry. amazon.com 400 pages $19.99 hardcover