Sep 29, 1934 – Oct 20, 2021
The ‘Father of Flow’, founder and co-director of the Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at Claremont Graduate University, and one of the founders of Positive Psychology passed away October 20, 2021. He was truly a giant in the field of psychology. His research on happiness has its roots in very adverse conditions as a survivor of WW II. He witnessed pain and suffering and emerged studying happiness!
His initial book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience highlights the premise that happiness levels can be shifted by introducing flow. Happiness is a fluid state that morphs beyond your own set point of happiness when you step into the trance like state called ‘flow’. His TED talk Flow, the Secret to Happiness, 2004, has captured people’s attention worldwide.
He described Flow as a psychological state wherein:
- There are clear goals every step of the way.
- There is immediate feedback to one’s actions.
- There is a balance between challenges and skills.
- Action and awareness are merged.
- Distractions are excluded from consciousness.
- There is no worry of failure.
- Self-consciousness disappears.
- Sense of time becomes distorted.
- The activity becomes an end in itself.
For further expansions of each concept visit previous newsletters here.
“Clearly it would be impossible to be in flow all the time. For the rhythms of life do not allow it. We have to rest,” Csíkszentmihályi.
After you have rested, start building your psychological capital. Whether it is mountain climbing, playing the piano, reading a book, playing a game of chess, writing code, or swimming a lap in the pool, choose an activity that speaks to you and lose yourself in it. You may not notice the joy while immersed in the activity, but you will definitely emerge happier. I believe Csíkszentmihályi has given a sublime gift to the world. A deep bow of gratitude. Let us honor him by accepting his invitation to step into ‘Flow’. We are all invited.