Flow: Happiness in Super Focus

WORKS CITED:

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience"

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, "The flow experience and its significance for human psychology"

Flow wikipedia page:

Bruce Lee, "Tao of Jeet Kune Do"

Csikszentmihalyi's TED talk on flow:

STUFF:

[falldamageOO]

I dont care who you are and what opinions you own, every video from this channel is helpful. It is undeniable.

[MECKENICALROBOT]

this melts like butter.... "... it'll be many more years, I suspect, before my talent matches the gargantuan task of writing. And can slip into that space where the *mutinous nest of my thoughts, resolve into the lovely shapes I admire* in other writers."

[OpenLettersMonthly]

"an extended devotion to craft" - oh, good for you, young man! Oh, bless you! Yes, it's not just bursts of inspiration: if you haven't done the work necessary to sharpen your skills, you won't be able to DO anything when those bursts of inspiration come (except drink, that is, and romanticize those moments). Which makes it very frustrating trying to describe the sheer, perfect joy of being in those moments of 'flow' to people who've been too lazy or timid to hone their craft; they haven't made it possible for themselves to feel what that 'flow' is like - it's like trying to describe a runner's high to somebody who only jogs a little on weekends. But the feeling itself, though indescribable, is essential for living - once you've felt it, you'll do anything to feel it again

[oOhedgieOo]

Artist and Psychology major here. Flow is something I personally experience in my art and that I am currently studying. It plays a big role in the world of Positive Psychology. Martin Seligman refers to it as "engagement" in his Well-Being theory PERMA. Jonathan Haidt has written about it in his book Happiness Hypothesis and other works. The list and the research goes on. Such a fascinating and crucial part of human flourishing. Great job on presenting it here in your video. Thanks again, Nerdwriter

[willem]

Flow is the reason why i continued playing the guitar. First time i felt it was trying to learn chords and playing a simple chord progression for who knows how long, then playing along with my favorite cd's, then playing with a drummer and bassist. In a band setting is where it became very obvious. Time slows down and the connection between your musical instinct and what you perform on your instrument becomes almost seemless, your physical form almost dissolving. It's wonderful!

[ChristofferCarlberg]

I absolutely loved your comment at around 4 min, and I had to transcribe it in full:

"It'll be many more years, I suspect, before my talent matches the gargantuan task of writing - and I can slip into that space where the mutinous nest of my thoughts resolves into the lovely shapes I admire in other writers."

Your words flushed onto me like the heated air that leaves the oven the very second you open its hatch. An unclear mist at first, but with texture and temperature that awakens the thoughts and catches your attention. It was wonderful, a second of happiness. Thank you for that.

[harvardmurrayinc]

Better than most TED talks. I like the substance and short form approach. Great job!

[MasterOfMisc]

As a software developer, I have experienced "flow" many times and its addictive. This may sound crazy, but for me, listening to fast hardcore music like trance or a melodic beat whilst writing code transcends the mind to this state. Something happens as your subconscious falls deeper and deeper into the subject at hand until you your mind is completely wrapped up in what you are doing. Then, after an hour or two you look up and realise the time!

PS: Great Video.

[zippincoffee]

I just found your channel and I'm ecstatic that I did.The great thing about flow is that you can feel and clearly see if a person is happy with what he/she is doing. And amazingly, you pass on that happiness to your audience. Its contagious. Thank you for sharing your passion to us.

[ChrisHaupt]

I believe flow can be achieved and maintained during any activity provided, as you say in the video, the conditions are right. Provided one is well trained in this activity and the activity is sufficiently challenging. But there is something missing from that description. I don't believe it is only artists, scientists and people with 'important' professions that are able to achieve flow. Most believe washing the dishes to be unchallenging and yet I am able to achieve flow during this kind of activity. Likewise, sweeping the floor can evoke the patterns of the universe in my mind and hone my perception down to fine muscle actions, flow of breathing and energy. Anything is sufficiently wondrous as long as one's perception is attuned to it.

From my journeys through philosophical texts it would seem that flow is (re)union with the pre-intellectual experience. It is a meditative state in which thought and action are one.
It is both enlightening and a product of enlightenment. In Taoism it is called the Tao, in Christianity it is union with God, in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit it is called satcitananda.

I teach primary school students in China and seem to achieve this state in almost every lesson out of necessity. There is no time to do otherwise or the class falls to pieces!

[jasminefarahat]

I find these videos very inspiring. I have recently fallen into a depression, and I miss those moments of flow when I used to engage in art and crafting. This video reminds me of my goals and what I want to experience in life again. Thank you.

[GandurZauber]

Thank you so much for introducing me to the model about skill and callenge level. I finally got to see all these different states I went through for the last few months when starting a new project at university. It made me realise that the reason I´m stuck right now is that I´m at a point of high challenge and low skill for my next task, so I shouldn´t be ashamed to ask for help.

[ALiJLIFE]

So happy to find this video. I'm a final year PhD student. Last few years for me have been extremely slow. I have had a lot of mentally tiresome work like with any PhD (constantly reviewing literature, conducting experiments and self-evaluating at every stage etc). It has been so tiring that at the end I actually started feeling that I know nothing (which is apparently common with other PhDs). However, since last few months, once I have started writing up my thesis, I certainly feel the 'flow' state.

I think the key requirement is the hard work and daily grind you have to put in beforehand.

[rabenvater]

Thank you so much for this!! I felt that "flow" for myself several times as a musican and can even bring in Csikszentmihalyi's work in a scientific work I am doing right now.
Your channel is worth gold, as we say in Germany. Greetings from here!

[orkinsc]

I stumbled across your channel today (thank you YouTube recommendations) and after four videos, I must say I am impressed. I appreciate the simplicity/complexity balance with which you explain concepts, your tone, and your pace. I also really enjoy the topics of all of the videos which I've watched. Hopefully I haven't stumbled over your four best videos... (haha) The flow concept is interesting to me and like many concepts about consciousness and satisfaction, it reminds of Buddhism. As you suggest in this video, flow occurs in those activities which we choose to enjoy. As I understand it, a goal of Buddhism is to find calm and happiness in every breath you take so as to not rely on a particular set of circumstances for your happiness (other than the fact that you're still breathing). As this sort of disciplined observance and appreciation of something as simple as a breath certainly is difficult and takes skill, it seems that practicing it may lead to one being able to experience "flow" when doing nothing more than observing their own breath. Maybe I just haven't seen it yet, but I look forward to a video of yours discussing life satisfaction more generally, outside of the "flow" framework. Keep the videos coming, Subscribed!

[JustinPohl]

Nerdwriter, you are amazing at what you do. Thanks for taking the time to make all of these wonderful videos for us to enjoy.

[ChristopherRoss.]

I'm no artist, but I tinker in Photoshop on occasion. I find myself entering a state of flow when I feel inspiration strike with the right stock photo. I'm also an audio engineer, and I enter into such a deep state of flow that I find myself almost losing time when I edit, mix, and master.

I find that I crave that feeling of singular focus and productivity and creativity all rolled up into one, if I go too long without it. Its even affected my down time to such a degree that I find myself adopting ADHD like symptoms when I'm not in flow, because I feel lacking and disengaged in whatever I'm doing. I can't pay attention to films, unless they're really artsy (and I can actively unpack and critique them as I'm watching--which ironically lets me pay closer attention to them and enjoy them that much more). I can't just sit down and listen to music any more. I have to be doing something with my hands to stay focused on it. Most video games have lost their flavor, and my attention span with them lasts all of five minutes (again, unless they're engaging on some higher intellectual level). Reading (thank goodness) hasn't lost its zest, but I find myself finding it difficult to actually engage in it. Once I'm actually reading, I'm good. But the seconds before picking up the book, and getting in the zone during those first few pages--Its so hard to get past that. For whatever reason, I just put it off and do something else when I would normally pick up my current read. I know how good it makes me feel, but for some reason there is resistance there.

I'm a flow junkie, and it kinda scares me.

[holylemon]

Really liked this video. Your content is way different that the usual entertainment/education channels.
I believe we all experience flow in our everyday lives, even for a moment at a time. Passion drives us to find this flow, even if it's not recognized yet, it's that which we all unconsciously strive for.

Flow can be recognized as a spiritual experience as well imo

[dabeda]

You are a role model! The friend I've always wanted to have.... philosophical, articulate and always seeing meaning in everything. Thank you for your contribution to the world! ☺

[donnydanko]

I always come to your channel to take a break from studying. Somehow I find learning through your videos much more engaging than doing my readings.