Rest in Peace Mihaly. Thank you for your teachings

This is one of my favorite TED talks.

That timelessness aspect of flow is so true! When I compose, I sometimes sit at the piano for over 4 hours without realizing a moment has gone by! It used to be that way with practicing other composer's work, but that lost a bit of it's 'flow' magic after 15 years or so! It truly is one of the weirdest and most rewarding feelings in the world out there!

This should be taught in school. But one thing I dont agree with, is when he talks about ten years of practice. Of course, practise is one of the fundemental elements of any virtue - and all fields of life can be lived as art if you care for it, take time, concentrate and practice - but you can experience the flow without practise if you concentrate so intensively that you are not concentrating anymore. (So basically, when you are having a flow) I felt it while in art school for the second time while I was a teenager and I thought I want to be a garden designer so the last half year of the school year I started to take art lessons. While I was painting a vase, I got so absorbed by just creating the sketch, the basic lines for that vase-painting that I totally forgot about time, about myself and I remember that hour or two as happy, content and filled with pure harmony. I didnt see my hands working on their own, nor have I vreated a masterpiece, thats true, but it was a flow.

I recommend Mihaly's book too, you will be glad you did, even if you never learn how to spell his name.

i truely believe happiness comes from being "free". In other words, freeing yourself from the negativity masked around the world around you. Not being concerned about what is "normal" about your thoughts, etc. Letting destiny take its course. If you end up crazy, then that's just your destiny. But don't be afraid of it, embrace it. It's all you can do.

you should listen to this at 1.25 speed

This is one of the talks that I have to watch every few months.

I reached a flow like state a few weeks ago. I had anxiety, usually I fight negative emotions. This time instead of resisting my anxiety I allowed it completely and accepted it. Suddenly I felt immersed to the surroundings. I felt elevated and awake, whole next day I felt illuminated and grateful to be alive. I think flow is the moment itself when you completely forget yourself. I now have had few more moments like this. Flow is letting/allowing the nature run through you and flowing with it.

when im on weed i can get into a flow state, my goal is to learn to activate it without needing it . not saying the weed makes me smarter or better, just easier to activate flow

This guy is a hero. Rest in peace.

By God he knows his stuff! One of the points he makes in his books is that you can learn how to develop more of a flow state no matter what situation you're in. The ultimate goal is to have more flow states in every area of your life, ultimately being able to be in some version of a flow state in any situation--not the rare kind, just the garden variety...if you can develop more of a flow state you can improve everything on a subjective level.

I teach dance improvisation.. And I use this concept daily. Harnessing this stream of consciousness state is great and is amazing to see in students who aren't yet limited by all the blocks that growing up in society brings.

I've experienced this feeling of "flow" only a few times in my life. However, my most memorable experience was a time I was writing. The words truly did flow from my mind and fingertips almost automatically. Before I knew it, about 3 to 3-1/2 hours had passed as if it were only minutes! It is an amazing and awesome feeling and experience! You must read this man's books!!!

surfing is the perfect example of an activity that allows a person to be one with nature and create natural flow

This is totally true and I felt it all my life :) I feel it when I was studying, now when I am working (I am an artist, but I feel it too when I am filing taxes [yes, that's true]), but also I feel it when watching a good movie or playing a good game, and it's usually a quality standard: If the movie/game involved makes me forget about myself, the time and the world, it is good: Because it centered enough my attention to flow with it and not starting to see it improvements (An actor's poor performance, a bug in a game, etc). That's when the creators of that did a really good job. As an artist this is my goal towards other people, to make them feel this way.

His depiction of this ecstasy is so true. We each bear a touch of greatness in us and sometimes, this ecstasy comes us and sometimes it doesn't. But when it does. we shine like never before.

Flow can be described as a sense that one’s skills are adequate to cope with the challenges provided by a goal-directed, rule-bound matter that provides clear feedback of how well one is performing. What happens is; concentration is so intense there is no attention left for any irrelevant matters. Self-consciousness disappears, and the sense of time becomes distorted. An activity that produces experiences so gratifying that people are willing to do it for its own sake.

In the same way that "flow" is temporary, momentary, so is the idea of being " happy". One cannot be constantly engaged in whatever activity that brings about either. Seek, rather, if at all possible, the state of being content" ........

Mihaly's work is fundamental to understanding the inputs that go into leading a fulfilling, meaningful career and/or life. Other writers and researchers who we feel build on this are Simon Sinek (Start With Why), Daniel Pink (Drive), Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers) and, from a more academic, positive psychology perspective, Jonathan Haidt (The Happiness Hypothesis, UVA), Daniel Gilbert (Stumbling on Happiness, Harvard), Chris Peterson (UMichigan) & Martin Seligman (Authentic Happiness, UPenn).

I was fortunate enough to take a class taught by Mike as part of my MBA at CGU. Life altering insights on meaning.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks total sense. Creating productive flow is the secret to productive happiness. Flow is achieved through the pursuance of commitment and drive. It is so important to keep challenging ourselves to reach new levels of creative mastery . Flow becomes natural if we keep doing what we love.

I think he's referring to a spiritual potential which lies in each person; there are ways of accessing that potential - the common ingredient seeming to be the WILLINGNESS (not the ability, which will come on a schedule unknown to us) to "see" (perceive) others - ALL others - with unconditional love. This engages the mind to realize our true Oneness with others, which reduces the energies needlessly dissipated in being competitive, judgmental, angry, etc. And the life-giving "flow" comes.

Reading his works is a great joy; listening to him talk, on the other hand, is a chore...

I'm Hungarian too, it's great to see a fellow in a TED talk seen by thousands of people. And I'm really intrigued by the cognitive flow, it's a frequent topic that comes up in video game design, and I think it's a pillar in creating fun and engaging games.

14:14 "Flow: 3. Great inner clarity. 6. Timelessness" So true.. 🙂

مُحاضرة رائعة جداً، وتستحق المشاهدة، بل انها نفسها تُدخلت في حالة "تدفق" لدرجة انك تتمنى لو لم تنتهي

Watching this at 1.25X = flow

I liked this lecture very much. It makes me think of what I need to do, to get to that state of flow.

The times where I have experienced this most, have been when I'm exhausted. There have been times when I've been doing some activity with little sleep and my brain kind of shuts of and I just work with absolute focus with a blank mind, hardly even thinking. Strangely I have been highly efficient in this state.

Just grateful to be able to hear from the man himself about Flow.

His book brought me so much insight I learned his full name out of my head. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi for president!

Very good presentation. Flow is the antithesis of depression.

Jaisa aapka naam hai waisa hi aapka kam aur gyan hai Sahab , Dhanyawad insabke liye.

It took me 1 hour and 14 minutes to watch this on a 56k modem.

Now this man is changing lives.

well, it can also be put as... "I'm/we're in the ZONE". whenever we do whatever gives us that state of mind, it just feels 'natural', if I may dare to use the word. Once you realize how it works (and over a period of time), this feeling can be tapped in whenever you want, meaning.. we can get into the zone quicker (than we did before or say someone else). It's quite similar to happiness, I feel... we always have it. All we have to do is try and keep a positive attitude. Loved the talk :) Cheers!

I think to feel "flow" calls for preparation for an overwhelming task and/or extremely beautiful experience that is unique in some way. You allow or invite this challenging task/experience, totally focusing on an aspect of the task/experience . . . e.g., a person, finishing the task or finding out what happends at the end of the experience. I also think that being n this state of mind is part of our natural survival mechanism.

Top Moments 5:50 You feel as though you don't exist. I sit there in a state of awe and wonderment [ Can I have what he is having?]

I searched what is ecstacy and got to this video. It caught my eye because amazing things have happened while I was rolling on the drug, and I just let life happen without thinking about what I'll do next- and let one thing lead to another...which works out better when you are really in a non-tense, content mood. I've talked about it before with my friends who've rolled with me and they experienced the same thing...flow.

I was in complete flow state of not understanding a word he said

محٌاضرة جميلة، تمنيته أن يسُهب في الحديث أكثر حتى أفهم حالة التدفق هاذي وكيف أطبقها على حياتي حتى أصبح ناجحاً!

Fulfillment at work or in life is not about the money, not the limelight.. but the way you feel when you are working, when you are living. If fulfillment is what you seek, this concept of FLOW may well be what you are looking for. May be you can't spell or pronounce this mans name.. he is Amazing!

I agree. I've had some very similar experiences, and it does seem like flow can originate from effort alone.

For reference his name is pronounced similar to 'chick-sent-me-hi"

I am infinitely grateful to Luis Felipe for having sent me this video-link today 17-10-2020 in one of those sad days that are never missing in life to make us grow, mature and move forward or to stop, cry and stagnate.

Good point, the rest is more than worth watching, but he does bring the whole lecture together and sum it up at this point.

Csikszentmihalyi ascended into the infinite flow state on October 20, 2021. May he rest in peace.

Rest In Power to the legend! 🙏🏾

Great talk, this subject is amazing, to be conscious of this makes you realize where do you need to improve to be more efficient a please with the use of your life. After thinking a bit about it, I'm wondering where procrastination in the latter chart could be, I imagine somewhere between relaxation and apathy, could be interesting to know if a difference exists or how it might relate.

I will never achieve flow with this man's voice in my head

This is sooooooooooo fantastic. This is definitely one of the very best TEDs I've seen.

Googles Doodle of this man brought me here.

Rest in peace, you've done the world a great favour.

Its crazy to think just 13 years ago professional videos where being recorded as such low quality video!

@careemntb, we all need to outgrow our sense of being separate from one another, but it is a daunting journey for most of us. We have to let go of the inner barriers of fear of "the other" which have built up over many generations. We can no longer think of others as Muslim or Christian or American or Sri Lankan, but as BEINGS sharing the planet alike. I think we are "called" to that state of BEING by a Divine Force, and it inspires me, even as I can be shocked by fears & rage inside myself.

Flow is the source of happinesshappiness

"Only a surfer knows the feeling..." ;)

Just wait, you will find it. One way I experience flow is by making music. Sometimes I will spend 3-4 hours making beats/DJ-ing etc. and it will feel like I only spent 20 minutes doing it. It's really crazy. I love it when my mind is free and can lose track of time!

After many years of video games and sports, I've become addicted to the flow state. Sometimes, I can even achieve the flow state during meditation. Though, I still don't understand why this feeling is inherently pleasant. How is it that this state of mind came to be rewarded with dopamine output? It's always funny to me how becoming aware of my presence in the flow state is the quickest way to undo my flow state.

@zxcvqwer84 - I agree with you that "turn the other cheek" (much different than being self-demeaning) is TERRIBLY difficult, but we are told to "persist, persist..." in prayer in being willing and able to act that way. To call another person an "irritating evil" person is already to have passed a judgement against the person (instead of just dealing with his/her behavior), and that in turn is ultimately a judgement against oneself, setting one up for pain and depression. Thanks for the note.

I have never felt this state of Flow. But I can say that I have felt many moments of happiness. It love the idea of Flow as a characteristic of happiness. However, I wonder if have Flow just not always at that same intensity. When my mind is quiet and my energy is moving through me.

This was just awesome and worth watching video and just blew my mind and enlightend me with so many things..... U are amazing man!!!!!

It's the analytical way to describe such things, which my brain actually appreciates. We're all wired a bit differently in how we disseminate information.

Respect!

Zen , especially the Zen arts, have so much in common with this.

This happens to me when I read books, especially in summer, in front of a water cooler fan.

Flow is the experience that results from the interaction between skill and challenge, typically as relates to some task. Video games pose an interesting question because television viewing is an activity that ranks low on challenge and skill. Video games on the other hand pose challenges of varying degree which seems like it should produce the conditions for flow. Yet, as one plays the same game over and over, as skill increases and challenge decreases, one will end up in the boredom dimension

Bravo three times over!

the recipe of flow is in black and white. like today I am 48 years old and I find flow in mountain biking. and my flow is better when I am alone or with my dog. start with something you like to do.

I enjoyed reading this man's book, Flow.

Mihaly has been around for a long time, but I have never seen many people who would claim his views to have impacted them in a way where they have truly become happy against all odds. Flow is good for the moment, but there is more to happiness than that.

Holy crap... Watched this one as a further explanation of the flow concept introduced in another talk. The part that I connect with the most involves a slide description of how a person feels when they are actually in the state of flow. It was a dead on description of when I get on a roll with something at work or around the house (working on a project, cleaning, etc.). I had always thought of it as being hyper-focused. According to the two talks, it's actually a key ingredient for happiness. I can't disagree. Although being so deeply involved in something can be exhausting afterwards, I can't think of a time when I didn't feel extremely satisfied once the work was done. Something like a productivity high, I think.

I really love that Challenge X Skill Level chart! I just printed one out and posted it on my wall to remind me of why I'm so terrified to start an art project every time. xD lmao

Enjoy your everyday, have a positive attitude for you life.

“When you hear music, you become the music.” - Ashtavakra Gita. You and the music you’re hearing become inseparable.

Incredible speech

juggling seems to fit this concept quite nicely, if you do it as a sport / hobby. advanced patterns and transitions require a lot of skill, and there is always a way to make it more difficult as soon as you manage to do something consistently. maybe this is what keeps the game of chess so popular, the scale of the challenge seems to be infinite.

"You can't be creating anything with less than ten years of technical knowledge immersion in a particular field whether it's Mathermatics or Music. It takes that long to begin to change something in a way that it's better than what was there before." I think the point he is trying to make is unless you truly mastered a skill, that usually takes 10 years, you can't expect to create a Master piece effortlessly.

Yes, that is exactly right.

14.08: Knowing that the activity is doable - that our skills are adequate to the task? I agree with his other points, but this I can't. There's so much that I must improve on. My skills are never adequate.

@Piitsi --- incredible, what a great flip from anxiety. Congrats.

I was in a flow state while watching this

It's so informative. Appreciate.

Even though there are clear differences of the terminology used when writing comments, my understanding of FLOW was a psychological state of satisfaction through an activity or rather creativity. I have recently started a blog by name ATHMAANANDAM(tendency for a happy soul)for my art work. The important component of FLOW is my case was my personal involvement and how unique can my work finally turn out to be. I am not in FLOW when I watch a good movie,its mostly a pleasure.

That is a really great 'mandate'... I enter flow in many if not most of the activities I engage in... I wonder if everyone just has a different tendency or if it is actually a skill that can be learned?

What the graph fails to show is the equal and even greater increase in the cost of living going up along with wages. Sure we have more money, but everything costs more now. We aren't all millionaires who have bought frivolous things we couldn't afford before.

Thank you.

Alchemy became chemistry with time. We need to start somewhere.

Thanks for that.

Rest in peace!

@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.

موضوع مشوق جدا.. اتوقع قراءة الكتاب أفضل

never think of retiring!!!

cont'd: Notice I said more of a flow state, because these things don't just come in pure cases, there are gradations. Also, he's describing "ideal" cirumstances, but there were people in his book who were able to develop flow states under "less then ideal" circumstances also.

I'm training to teach right now so I'm stuck in anxiety, occasionally I drop into arousal or worry.

The level of skill a person possesses is socially relative. (You think you have high level of skills until you might meet a person that is many times better than you.) So, I wonder, what will happen if you are in the state of flow (high skill and high challenge) and than realize that your skill level is not that high? Will you loose the feeling of flow?

If the ecstatic experiences of the music composer, poet, and figure skater, were narrated to Patanjali, he probably would say they were in a state of 'Savichar Samadhi' during those episodes.

.... unless the expectation or anticipation of whatever activity brings about flow makes one happy then so be it

+IlustradaMente Amigo trago uma nova ideia para o seu canal: comece uma nova jornada no seu canal, com livros estrangeiros. O livro do Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi aborda um assunto fantástico. O livro se chama FLOW. Ele foi a fundo pra aprender com os maiores players de seus mercados (maiores músicos, artistas, jogadores) o momento em que ficavam no estado de flow: quando estão performando no seu máximo que esquecem de tudo a sua volta. Não percebem que o tempo está passando porque estão 100% presentes ali. Esse livro ainda não foi traduzido! É uma pena para quem não domina o inglês perder a chance de ler um livro como esse. Você será capaz de impactar milhões de pessoas. Acredito muito no seu trabalho!