Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Creativity, fulfillment and flow

http://www.ted.com Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."


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[kuentai]

My childhood was dominated by computer games for this very reason.

[hootiepaladin]

I like his dry sense of humor.

[ilovebuckethead21]

@TroyMccluresbreth which timeline are you talking bout?



[TroyMccluresbreth]

I was the top ranked player in armor for battlefield 3 until 1 month ago I realized I had to achieve this mental state of flow through other means, now i just have to find what intrigues me as much as being challenged by 32 people all at once. Should be easy right?The only thing i can even begin to compare with being in a flow state would be certain drugs. I don't agree with his timeline for being able to achieve a flow state, as i've experienced it within minutes of starting an activity.

[leconfidant]

@b1ackhatd3vilz Fair point.

BTW would someone UNSPAM b1ackhatd3vilz comment? I'm the one he's calling an idiot and he has a perfect right to do so if only because he happens to have a point. If you don't like the opinion, it's dishonest to flag it as spam when it's clearly not spam.

[leconfidant]

@winder487 Interesting reply. Maybe you're right. I think everyone has had the experience of being excited and into what they're doing. But most artists who report the experience say they needed about six years before they felt the work 'coming through them', instead of being in reasonable control of what they're doing. Maybe that's elitist, but they all agreed it was more fun and satisfying then sex. Are you having that doing something else?

[winder487]

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn't experienced this. Perhaps not.

[rangoulienne]

Read his book, nearly twelve years ago. That guy simply saved my life. After reading it, i could sing without feeling guilty or a waste of time. I have been doing it, in public, started last march, this year only (about time, uh...). Les choses les plus évidentes sont quelquefois les plus difficiles à s'accorder. Sur ce, je retourne l' accorder cette guitare et ma voix ;-)

[kuentai]

@XxbruncyxX Yeah I don't disagree, I came to the same conclusions when I came across all of these videos over a year ago when I posted the comment, if you can read you'll note it says 'childhood' damn I think I'll delete it, all these replies are starting to get annoying.

[XxbruncyxX]

I feel flow when doing pick-up :)

[XxbruncyxX]

@kuentai If you are to spend the majority of your time in life with other people focusing on social interactions and prestige Computer Games are not the best choice. However challenging and healthy for a creative mind, this is not a good choice over other activities. Remember you become good at what you do

->

Good at sitting in front of a computer

or good in company with others. Take your pick.

[XxbruncyxX]

@kuentai I did spend a huge amount of my teens with Computer Games as well.One must remember that Computer Games are merely a substitute for other activities that might bring your state of mind into Flow as well. Focusing on achieving Flow through social activities adds up very useful character traits such as Charisma and Confidence as a bi product.