Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,
and that’s by the way how you say his name, dedicates a big part of the book to this idea
that, “A person can make himself happy, or miserable,
regardless of what is actually happening ‘outside,’ just by changing the contents of consciousness.” And he goes on to quote
Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, and Viktor Frankl…
So this idea isn’t something new, it’s been around for millennia now,
but recently we’ve been able to gather more data on it. And I’ve talked about this idea ad nauseam
now, so I won’t go into detail with it.
I’ve talked about it in my videos about Meditations and Man’s Search for Meaning,
and many other videos, but to touch on it briefly… People have this idea that
if you just had a bigger house, you’d be happy. If you just had a nicer car, you’d be happy.
If you just had a lot of money, you’d be happy. But that’s just not how happiness works… Here’s a graph adjusted for inflation
that shows a period of about half a century where personal income tripled,
but it didn’t really affect how happy people were.
After some basic point, where your basic needs have been met,
buying an even bigger house isn’t the way to happiness.
It’s about changing the contents of your consciousness. So how can we change the contents of our consciousness?
One of the best ways to do this is to put ourselves in a state of optimal
experience called flow. Csikszentmihalyi describes flow as,
“The state in which people are so involved in an activity
that nothing else seems to matter.” He goes on to say that,
“Concentration is so intense that there is no attention left over
to think about anything irrelevant or to worry about problems.
Self-consciousness disappears, and the sense of time becomes distorted.” And you’ve probably experienced this before,
and it’s absolutely one of the best feelings in the world.
If you’re working on your business, you might be so focused on what you’re doing
that 12 hours might pass and you have no idea… All of a sudden, you look up and you realize
you haven’t even had any food, you haven’t thought about anything else,
the only thing that you could focus on was your business. And the same thing applies to so many other
activities whether you’re a rock climber focused on climing
your new record or a master pianist composing your new masterpiece.
It’s an amazing feeling. You’re so immersed into what you love doing,
into what you’re really good at, that your brain simply can’t focus on other
things. You’re not worrying about stupid things.
You’re not regretting what you did yesterday or stressing about what you’ll do tomorrow.
It’s absolutely one of the best feelings in the world. So if we look at the flow diagram,
here’s how you put yourself in the state of flow…
You don’t want what you’re doing to be too challenging,
otherwise you’ll have anxiety. You don’t want what you’re doing to be too
easy for your skills either, otherwise you’ll be bored.
But it’s when you balance these two that you end up in the flow channel.
You’re striving towards the upper right corner constantly.
You increase your challenge, you get better. You get better, you increase your challenge.
And the more you move toward that direction, the more intense the state of flow gets. So this is not really a how-to book,
but our goal should be to find what it is that we love
and then keep getting better at it and keep making it more challenging.
Or in other words, the main goal is to spend as much of your
life as you possibly can in the state of flow
because that is where you find this unbelievable ecstasy. And Csikszentmihalyi gives an example of the
indians in the Shuswap region of Canada,
who would settle down in a place filled with resources,
and life was good, and they had everything they needed…
They had all the food and fish where they were,
but the elders would make sure that the entire village
would just pack up and move to a new location every 25 or 30 years.
This way, they knew they would have new places to explore
and hunt and fish and new challenges to overcome… And it’s a great story to keep in mind when
you think about how most people just want to settle down in
front of their TV for the rest of their lives… And in a lot of my videos,
I criticize being in front of the TV all night, or spending your entire day on your Facebook
feed, and I often get people who tell me,
“Well, what if that makes the person happy?” And the answer is,
“Sitting on Facebook all day will not make anyone genuinely happy.”
If you pick a person who spends his entire day in front of the TV,
he’s probably not going to be the most exciting, happy, ecstatic person. Let’s take a look at the graph again…
Looking at your facebook all day or watching TV
puts you in the lowest left corner of the graph,
which is known as the area of apathy. There’s no challenge involved, there’s no
skill involved, you’re apathetic.
And when you’re not completely apathetic, You’re probably sitting there bored,
or worrying about everything there is to worry about. So move away from that…
Move away from the boredom, apathy, and worry and move towards ecstasy which is what you’ll
experience when you hit the state of optimal experience
called flow.
recommended your videos to be shown in our company TV. More subscribers coming!
We can manage 124bit/s or 110bit/s? And to understand someone speaking 40bit/s or 60bit/s ? In book is 124/40 and in lectures is 110/60. They make some discoveries?
this is my favourite book review of all.
fantastic. great summary
This is amazing!!!
I am not fluent in English, but I suppose this talent is called "to gist". You gist information so gently out of the book and so engaging it is to watch this 5-min video!!!
This is an ultimate "how to choose a book" experience and a very nice way to review what you've read long time ago!
Thank you so much for what you're doing!
Keep doing this! Our kids will watch these videos =)
Thank you so much for this man! I'm actually a starting life coach and I heard about this book. I was discerning whether to buy it or not and because of you I AM Definitely buying and reading this! It's gonna add to my knowledge so in turn I could help more people more. Thank you so much! Keep it up!
Can this not be a bad thing if it becomes addictive.
excellent explanation of theory of flow
Who else hears the autotune?
Hi, I haven't read the book but I think the root of this idea is to immerse yourself in what you are doing rather repeating the same one thing you like, over and over, just to be in the flow. Masters say even running errands is a meditation. So, if you live the same life immersed in doing the same simple or complicated things you have been doing, you can live the same life, but on a whole new and happier level. (btw…. I really love your channel and appreciate what you are doing. Keep it up. tc.)
nicely done.
please come back😢
Your summaries are great and I love that you pull from a wide variety including philosophy (especially stoicism and existentialism). I'm wondering if you have had time to read Marx or other economic critiques. I'm curious where you are coming from ideologically.
Thanks for putting this together. The flow diagram is great! I experienced the flow repeatedly kayaking the Grand Canyon.
"why are you looking at the videos you're looking at…?"
I really hate that guy in the ad. Worse than Tai Lopez
this guy's channel is awesome and i really recommend you guys to see another video about flow by a channel called nerdwriter1. Both explanation is slightly different but its very eye opening if you see both videos.
cheers
What is the Good Life? Finding your flow, evidently.
I cam here hoping to hear his name pronounced after just now gone to this site: https://www.youtube.com/user/phuckmediocrity/videos?view=0&flow=grid&sort=p
Great présentation with great Flow 😄. i suscribe Right now
Best video ever 😍😍
WOW !
as much as I hate self help be positive the law of attraction bs I think this might have some scientific explanation
There are many other points that need to be covered.
I bask in flow when playing guitar but I don't like playing guitar, i play it because i'm addicted to that high flow brings. wish i could do something else to bring me that sweet sweet euphoric brain melt.
Kudos for the Video! Sorry for butting in, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you thought about – Marnaavid Unexplainable Intervention (should be on google have a look)? It is a smashing exclusive product for learning how to hack your flow state minus the normal expense. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my friend after a lifetime of fighting got cool success with it.
So Helpful , Thank you so much 😀
nice
WHAT is the name of music plz?
The graph (1.05) says it all man. a BIGGER house or a brand new car isn´t the way to happines
I will search for flow..Thank you for everything 🙂
Now with this video … is clear now what a need to balance, THANK YOU
Good explained, now I understand better for my leisure Exam. Thanks!!
This is why I subscribed. Thank you dude.
I have experienced it in meditation, giving a possibility to study my self-image or just rest without any thoughts. Very usual phenomenon while playing piano and guitar. Maybe someday it's possible to experience it at work. Needs some practice. Daily exercise.
This book is ABSOLUTE garbage. I got it because I'm a born athlete and musician and wanted to enhance my focus. Turns out i already know more about it than this flop. Any author who makes it a POINT to take God out of the equation is missing the mark by a mile. This is the type of scientist that will try to explain the unexplainable through numbers but refuses to believe in God… hellooooo is that not insane to anyone else?? how dumb and egocentric and simple minded you gotta be to disreguard millions of peoples experiences of God through Christ??? He will findout no doubt as we all will. The ramblings and bias "findings" of a godless man is worthless and misguided to say the LEAST.
I kust LOVE YOUR VIDEOS AND they're CHANGING MY LIFE…PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR GREAT WORK & MAY GOD BLESS YOU!….SUBSCRIBED LIKED AND ADDED TO FAVOURITES, SELF DEVELOPMENT AND MANY OTHER PLAY LISTS!!!
I love your videos ,,,, thank you 💖
The comment section in these types of videos is soo goood
Great video! Though, I think being on Facebook or Twitter arguing with people about politics can be extremely challenging and thus lead to high levels of anxiety, unless your trolling skills are high enough to make the person you are arguing with more anxious than you. Maybe that's why the internet is so toxic. We fight not to win an argument but to see who wins the anxiety battle. If we we win an argument our reward is peace of mind, and if we lose our punishment is anxiety. So many things to think about. Again, awesome video!
Thank you for this video! I forgot about how great positive psychology is until I watched your videos about Flow and learned optimism.
THANKS
Sounds like positive addiction
I repost it here too. His name should be pronounced
'Mee-hi' 'Chick-sent-me-hi -ee' (you need 'ee' at the end). Look at the i at the end of his name.
(PS: I'm native Hungarian)
Great vid, pretty much summarizes his whole book. Just finished reading it, I did learn a lot about the anatomy of consciousness but I wouldn’t say I learned a lot about happiness. I mean when you truly think about it, what he puts forth is common sense, actually just obvious. But he came up with terms and graphs to explain it but at then end of the day – enjoyment is acquired from doing things we enjoy and to which we devote are attention. This is painfully self-evident.
Prob the best thing you can take away from it is that indeed the type of experience you will have when engaged in a particular situation depends a lot on your your attitude and predisposition. But again, this is flirting with the obvious. Serves as a nice reminder though.
Also, Mihaly himself doesn’t strike me as a very happy guy so it’s kinda hard to take his methods too seriously. Always look who’s giving the advice.
I think the key point might be that unless you actually HAVE your basic needs met, you are focused on that. So yeah… in the 80s getting the bigger house was a focus (because media said so) but these days, too many people are just trying to pay rent and feed their kids… having A house, not a bigger house, is an ACTUAL issue. NOT that I am invalidating what you are saying here… just that for anyone struggling to keep up, they probably get tired of hearing that they just have to "be happy". Great video though!
Great video content! Apologies for butting in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you heard about – Marnaavid Unexplainable Intervention (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is a great exclusive product for learning how to hack your flow state minus the hard work. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my friend after a lifetime of fighting got cool results with it.
Excellent video content! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you considered – Marnaavid Unexplainable Intervention (should be on google have a look)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for learning how to hack your flow state minus the headache. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my friend got great success with it.
I'd be very happy with a billion dollars.
So I watched a summary of the book and know the lesson in it. Should I spend my time in reading it?
Thank you for video
Why don't you give us the lesson summary, it would be a great product???
Flow state also applicable on study
This is really similar to "the creativity gap" described here: https://youtu.be/OUZ7R7AdIiI?t=3m51s
Great video 🙂
Basically described and justified my 16 y. old , addiction to Video Games.. , Dont worry about money just be in a "flow" … great.
More about Flow Csikszentmihalyi's official youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cg6xJ0tu2amMsFrgp-M4g
really glad for this review, gave a good idea of what knowledge the author is trying to teach us.
fuckin love ya, i can finally understand my own presentation <3
2:00
Wouldnt this just apply to rats or hamsters running on a wheel? If the idea to happiness is to achieve mind-numbing through a high-level energy absorbing task… is that really happiness? or a diversion from your own existence
cheek-sent-me-hi-ee
I just searched this 'cause I wanted to hear how to pronounce his name
Chicks got me high too bruda
Thanks dude
Bravo et merci !
This is a great video that sums up flow theory well! I just wanted to add to the 'boredom' state. You might also hear it called the 'relaxation' state which I prefer. If you think about a musician practicing an easier piece or scale to warm up, they may be in the relaxation state, but if they do this for too long and/or repetitively, then they will fall into boredom. If you're looking for more information about flow theory, I suggest reading Csikszentmihalyi's article, "Flow in Schools: Cultivating Engaged Learning and Optimal Learning Environments."
I SHARED YOUR CHANNEL TO 18 FRIENDS MOST OF THEM WERE THANKFUL TO YOU TO CREATE SUCH HELPFUL CONTENT 2 OF THEM HAD IMMEDIATELY SUBSCRIBED YOUR CHANNEL.
I THINK YOU WOULD BE THE GREATEST MENTOR FOR THIS PROBLEM SIR:
SIR THE THING IS THAT I STUDY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I ONLY HAVE ONE DAY TO COMPLETE 15 UNPREPARED CHAPTERS OF MATH I NEED TO EXTRACT MAXIMUM TIME, LEARN MAXIMUM, BE PRODUCTIVE ,MAKE EXCELLENT PREPARATION WITHOUT ANY DELAY . PLEASE HELP ME SIR IT IS VERY MUCH CRUCIAL FOR MY LIFE AND IT IS REALLY URGENT.SIR REMEMBER MY URGENCY IS "ALMOST OF MY LIFE AND MY DEATH" – IF YOU ARE UNDERSTANDING. SIR RESPONSE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.ॐ
Amazing and inspiring work. I look forward to you other videos. Thanks
Don't think…just live?
When the marker sound effect at the intro squeeked, my dog suddenly lifted her head up to see what's up XD
Whats the difference between flow and bliss(like feeling after ejaculation)?
I don't know how Mihaly got famously well known in positive psychology circles. His concepts are a rehash of things that we already know. Claiming flow as a "secret to happiness" is also a little conceited, don't you think?
I'm sorry but it's nonsense. you are wrong. this chart has a lot of errors.
You should delete it.
I’ve been having this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach for a while now. Like something is not right. This video opened my eyes to my problem. I gotta take a shit.
I love watching youtube videos but then i get bored… how do i turn this to flow
Maybe I missed it but I don't think you defined happiness?
I completely agree with you and what you say matches my perspective. I think about the Facebook-addicted people I know. From their perspective, maybe Facebook is where they achieve their flow? I think any time spent on FB is a total waste, but who am I to judge? Thanks for the video.
I searched for a video like this for ages
And then….I found you. Great channel. Greetings from Seoul, SC
Starts taking Ecstasy pills
king Dionisio of Siracusa is OK!
Great summary of this fantastic books core message, love the content – great work
I just finished this book and stumped upon your review… wow very cool. Thanks for the great video
I have had this book for years and never got around to reading it.
mountaineering in chamonix changed my life…living out of my van at the time. other similar outdoor sports can bring out the warrior and connect to the sublime.
take a lesson in ice climbing , join a club…
Actually, I watched this just to learn how to pronounce his name.
This is such a clear explanation and summary of the flow state – really enjoyed watching this and will be sharing with others!
'nuff said..!
I learned this when Learning NLP.
I am a full beliver. I read all you said. I read alot. Augustine equated the ability to read is like a drop of clear water in the mud shit of life. U need to read the greek. Thats why children he despised. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGnHAqu9Geo this might upset u
Amazing Idea to take away
Flow🔥🔥🔥
This is good – oversimplistic – it is mistaking "zoning out" for "being in the zone" – like a lot of this stuff – but on the right track.
Personally i don't think many people today are chasing money or material things for happiness. It's mostly the lack of time people have to do things they like i.e. being at work all day
why all dudes
I just realized I've been in apathy for 6 years (I think that was the time I started watching youtube videos more and more, I don't use facebook/twitter/etc). I read about apathy and it describes me almost perfectly. I'm pathetic.
I would argue that the top right corner of the scale should be called ecstasy. I had hobby "jobs" in which I had the challenge and the skill level very nicely matched but I wasn't "ecstatic", it was just fun and the time went by very fast.
When you're named "Me high, chick sent me high" you aren't destined to be an average person.
Affective Neuroscience and the Flow Experience: A different explanation
In affective neuroscience, incentives embody affective states that reflect attentive arousal as mediated by dopamine systems, and pleasure, as mediated by opioid systems. The nerve cells or nuclei of both systems are proximally located in the mid-brain and can activate each other. For example, looking forward to a pleasure accentuates the pleasure, and a pleasurable experience perks up attentive arousal.
Dopamine release can occur as a phasic or intermittent response, as when our attention ebbs and flows as a function or our momentary fluctuating interest and boredom. It also occurs as a tonic or sustained response in order to maintain a baseline level of alertness that allows us to go about our lives. Opioid release also occurs as a phasic response when we sample our daily pleasures, but it also may be a tonic response, but only when the covert musculature is in an inactive or relaxed state. When an individual is tense or anxious, tonic opioid activity is suppressed. This make evolutionary sense, as resting conserves an animal’s caloric resources, and animals in the wild sustain their survivability through the dual incentive of alertness for predators while at a pleasurable state of rest. (As your lounging cat would attest, if it could speak).
From these facts, certain predictions about behavior may be made that conform with empiric reality. For example, peak or flow experiences that reflect heightened attentive arousal and pleasure only occur when an individual is both relaxed and is aroused by highly interesting or salient behavior (e.g. creativity, sporting events). This observation can also be practically confirmed (or falsified!). Simply attain a continuous resting state (mindfulness protocols are best for this) and couple it with imminent or actual behavior that is meaningful or salient, and the more salient, the greater the effect. Heightened salience increases dopaminergic activity, which in turn stimulates opioid systems, and the resulting ecstatic experience becomes in a certain sense addictive.
For a more detailed explanation see pp.47-52, 82-86 on the linked treatise on the psychology of resting states. I am also at the site doctormezmer for a more impolite take on psychology.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/284056765/The-Book-of-Rest-The-Odd-Psychology-of-Doing-Nothing
Thanks I literally just needed to know how to say his name
I'm studying this in college. I can't believe that there is a video like this on internet. Thankyou for existing
She has some Epictetus 😭
WHAT FLOW OR PEAK EXPERIENCES ARE, HOW TO PROVE IT, AND ALL WITHOUT LONG LECTURES FROM WINDBAG PROFESSORS OR OTHER CON MEN
Assumptions
1. Opioid systems (pleasure) are activated when the covert musculature is inactive or relaxed, and suppressed when the covert musculature is active (a state of tension).
2. Dopamine systems (attentive arousal) are activated upon the perception or anticipation of positive act-outcome discrepancy (or novelty) and are suppressed when present or anticipated outcomes are predictable or negative (boredom, depression).
3. When concurrently activated, opioid and dopamine systems can interact and co-stimulate each other, and result in self-reports of ecstatic or peak experience.
Prediction
response contingencies that induce relaxation (e.g. mindfulness protocols) and attentive arousal (e.g. meaningful behavior) will result in the co-activation of both systems with self-reports of arousal and pleasure and are subjectively reported as ‘flow’ or ‘peak’ experiences.
Proof
Self-reports of peak experiences without exception occur during states of relaxation coupled with the continuous anticipation of high and positive act-outcome discrepancy (e.g. creative, sporting, and other meaningful behavior). (pp.82-86 of linked book below). Besides being verifiable on its face, the hypothesis also provides the procedural means for its easy falsification. (pp. 47-52). To wit, simply consistently engage in mindfulness (a relaxation protocol) while consistently pursuing meaningful behavior, and you will feel alert, arouses, and feel good to boot. That’s it.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/284056765/The-Book-of-Rest-The-Odd-Psychology-of-Doing-Nothing
Faxxx