In another class of mine we are learning about the power of "flow" that intrinsically motivates specific courses of action. In a short video clip, author and psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi briefly highlights the concept he has termed "flow", which is a state of extreme focus and concentration on a given activity. All this focused attention leads an individual to essentially remove him or herself from the realm of reality, dissociating all real concepts of time, hunger, relationships, etc.
The main underlying question Csikszentmihalyi attempts to answer is: what contributes to a life worth living? His description/definition of flow derives from Eastern spiritual philosophies of attaining internal ecstasy through meditation, ritual prayers, and such. He realized this term "flow" after interviewing several artists, CEOs, sports figures, and musicians who frequently described their experiences (directly or indirectly) as a state of flow.
Finally, Csikszentmihalyi describes the importance of achieving flow by ascertaining a perfect merger of skills and challenges; usually this requires a higher measure of the two variables. It has been widely accepted that in order to become an expert in a (creative) field, one must possess at least ten years of dedicated, persistent, and rigorous practical training and experience. He describes expertise as being able to change something and improve upon it to make it better than it was before.
Supporting Websites
- The video can be found at http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html
- A brief overview of flow via wikipedia is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you channel your flow?
2. What activities enable a state of flow?
The main underlying question Csikszentmihalyi attempts to answer is: what contributes to a life worth living? His description/definition of flow derives from Eastern spiritual philosophies of attaining internal ecstasy through meditation, ritual prayers, and such. He realized this term "flow" after interviewing several artists, CEOs, sports figures, and musicians who frequently described their experiences (directly or indirectly) as a state of flow.
Finally, Csikszentmihalyi describes the importance of achieving flow by ascertaining a perfect merger of skills and challenges; usually this requires a higher measure of the two variables. It has been widely accepted that in order to become an expert in a (creative) field, one must possess at least ten years of dedicated, persistent, and rigorous practical training and experience. He describes expertise as being able to change something and improve upon it to make it better than it was before.
Supporting Websites
- The video can be found at http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html
- A brief overview of flow via wikipedia is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you channel your flow?
2. What activities enable a state of flow?
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