100 Days of Vision…Day 2

The power of flow…

I just finished reading the book called Flow by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi and it was one of the most well written, informative and practical books that I have read thus far. The principle of the “Flow State” is described on Wikipedia as:

The mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing, characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

I took a great deal of time reading this book through thoroughly as I felt there was so much information to asborb which was meaningful, solid and highly applicable to day to day living. Another great thing about this book is that in many ways it decribes what many of us may call spirituality and it is done in a way that everyone can understand and appreciate. I have always said that pretty much any activity can become “spiritual” if it is done with a spiritual mindset. For me, the “spiritual mindset” and flow state” is very similar. It could be any activity ranging from writing to golf, from motor racing to gardening!

The reason I mention this book is because I feel like this book would be extremly useful if it was introduced, not only to educators, so that they can explain flow and use it as a tool for children, but also re-written as version which young adults from the ages of 14-18 could appreciate. The language in the book is very simple, however it is quite long, so a condensed version would not only be easy to create, but would then be more enjoyable for young adults to read with pleasure and at the same time give them the ability to take more control of their lives. Who knows, maybe this is even a project I may take up myself or even propose to Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. 😀

It is books like I feel which will ultimately stand the test of time and will shape humanity in it’s own unique way. As time passes I get the impression that more and more people are understanding the principles behind the spirtual human evolution. Learning how to create the flow states within ones own life will be one of the major tools that people will look towards in terms of enriching and enhancing the human experience!

I wanted to share some quotes from the book with you:

“The general malaise is not due directly to external causes. Unlike so many other nations in the contemporary world, we can’t blame our problems on a harsh environment, on widespread poverty, or on the oppression of a foreign occupying army. the roots of the discontent are internal, and each person must untangle them personally, with his or her own power.”

“As people move through life, passing from the hopeful ignorance of youth into sobering adulthood, they sooner or later face an increasingly nagging question: “Is this all there is?” Childhood can be painful, adolescence confusing, but for most people, behind it all there is the expectation that after one grows up, things will get better. During the years of early adulthood, the future still looks promising, the hope remains that one’s goals will be realised. But inevitably the bathroom mirror shows the first white hairs, and confims the fact that those extra pounds are not about to leave.”

“The pursuit of a goal brings order in awareness because a person must concentrate attention on the tast at hand and momentarily forget everything else. these periods of struggling to overcome challenges are what people find to be the most enjoyable times of their lives.”