Flow

Name: Flow
Author: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
ISBN: 9780060920432

The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Written byMihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Based on years of research into what makes people happy, Csikszentmihalyi describes “flow”: the state of being so absorbed in a challenging activity that time seems to disappear. He shows that we can create more of these moments in work and everyday life.

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Published1990
GenrePsychology
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01Happiness is something we take part in
The best moments usually come when we're stretching ourselves to do something difficult and worthwhile, not when we're relaxing.
02Match the challenge to your skill
Flow happens when a task is hard enough to stretch you but not so hard that it overwhelms you.
03Clear goals and quick feedback help
Knowing what you're aiming for, and seeing how you're doing, makes it easier to become absorbed.
04Order in the mind
Learning to control your attention is the key to a richer inner life.
05Turn ordinary tasks into flow
Even routine work can become engaging when you set goals, pay close attention and look for ways to improve.
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Happiness is something we take part in

The best moments usually come when we're stretching ourselves to do something difficult and worthwhile, not when we're relaxing. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

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