statemili.blogg.se - Flowstate definition

#FLOWSTATE DEFINITION HOW TO#
#FLOWSTATE DEFINITION FULL#

The flow experience allows you to achieve difficult things (mastering a piece of music, beating a personal best, etc.).

Flow states are deeply enjoyable, creative, and even happy.

There are THREE key things to note from this passage:

There is a feeling of control over the task.

Actions and awareness are merged, losing self-conscious rumination.

There is a balance between challenge and skills.

The experience is intrinsically rewarding.

Transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down).

Clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback.

In an article published on the positive psychology website, Csikszentmihalyi describes eight characteristics of flow: For each person there are thousands of opportunities, challenges to expand ourselves. For a child, it could be placing with trembling fingers the last block on a tower she has built, higher than any she has built so far for a swimmer, it could be trying to beat his own record for a violinist, mastering an intricate musical passage. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.

Timelessness (focused only on the present)Ĭsíkszentmihályi describes flow state like this:Ĭontrary to what we usually believe, moments like these, the best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times-although such experiences can also be enjoyable if we have worked hard to attain them.

Knowing that the activity is doable (even if it is difficult).

Completely absorbed in what we are doing.

Seven Characteristics of Experiencing Flow Flow ResearchĬsíkszentmihályi and coauthor, Jeanne Nakamura, published an article entitled Flow Theory and Research in The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology describing flow as “ the experience of complete absorption in the present moment, and the experiential approach to positive psychology that it represents.”Ĭsíkszentmihályi gave a TedTalk in which explained seven characteristics for what it feels like to be in flow.

#FLOWSTATE DEFINITION FULL#

It’s giving your full attention to the moment and task at hand, and not worrying about anything else. In many ways, flow state is similar, or even synonymous with, mindfulness. Your creativity and productivity surges and you lose track of time. All your attention and energy is directed toward a single objective and you completely forget about the outside world. What Is Flow State and Why Does It Matter?įlow state is a term coined by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi to describe being fully immersed in a task, to the point where everything else fades away. In this article, I will explain what flow state is, how it can supercharge your productivity, and methods for getting into the flow state.

Just think how great it would be to experience flow in your everyday life. You can be intentional about creating the conditions that lead to a flow state. You do not have to wait for it to happen. The point is that this is not something that happens randomly. It is the same for musicians, academics, and top performers from every discipline. Yet they consistently perform at a high level. It is possible to operate this way consistently. Finding flow does not have does not have to be a mystery. What I am describing as being in the zone is what psychologists call Flow State. We enjoy those days when they happen, but later wonder how it happened and how long it will be before it happens again. Paul says, “It is about finding that sweet spot where your mind is stimulated by a challenge that is difficult enough to energize you, but not so hard as to frustrate you.”Įveryone has experienced days like that – when everything goes right. The Flow ExperienceĪccording to Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, to achieve flow requires us to calibrate the difficulty of the challenge to our capacity so that it is just at the edge of what we are able to do. That is what it means to be in the zone and achieve flow.

#FLOWSTATE DEFINITION HOW TO#

I know what needs to happen, and I know how to do it. I am going to perform at my highest level. I am going to be completely focused on my most important task.