A Look at Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engaging with Everyday Life By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Article by Jennifer Boddaert

“If one fails to develop goals that give meaning to one's existence, if one does not use
the mind to its fullest, then good feelings fulfill just a fraction of the potential we
possess… Without dreams, without risks, only a trivial semblance of living can be
achieved.”

At this time I’m halfway through reading this book and yet I feel I am just touching the surface
of the 'meat' involved in this title: “The Psychology of Engaging with Everyday Life.” I chose to read
Mr Csikszentmihalyi’s sequel to his well referenced book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal
Experience (1990) because instead of getting lost inside the research and full examination
surrounding “Flow”, I wanted to engage a book that was directed at how best to achieve and
apply Flow in one’s life.

Csikszentmihalyi starts by looking at what the elements of Flow are which hint to how Flow
may be attained:

“...It is possible to improve the quality of life by making sure that clear goals, immediate
feedback, skills balanced to action opportunities, and the remaining conditions of flow
are as much as possible a constant part of everyday life.”

He then looks at our everyday life and where the majority of our time and energy tends to be
focused and analyses whether Flow has been found more in work or in leisure, changing over
time given the societal structures and values in the given cultural age. He also looks a bit at
where flow is most likely to be found: at work, or with good friends, and why this may be the
case.

He devotes chapters to analysing Work styles, Leisure habits and effort towards quality of
Relationships as key aspects that, when attuned towards the aspects of Flow, will result in a
sense of a more fulfilling life and overall happiness.

Csikszentmihalyi hints slightly that some people are more apt at entering flow than others,
revealing particularly that evidence has shown that those who do not isolate themselves from
society too much, but engage in the community, are more likely to report Happiness. As well
as; those who read are more likely to experience Flow than those who watch tv in
their spare time. He also nudges a bit towards the fact that the type of material engaged
In and how one chooses to engage it determines the level of chance toward Flow: is it
with a mindless purpose to escape stress, or is it a conscious decision to learn something
new?

It is therefore implied that both personality and learned habits may contribute to
whether one is more likely to adopt a knack for entering Flow in one’s daily life, but we also
discover some paradoxes in the theory of finding Flow; paradoxically no matter what
personality or skills ones has, one can find their own ways of discovering Flow for themselves.
It is also reiterated that each area of life is paradoxical in that it may be a hindrance or an
opportunity towards Flow depending on HOW one is engaging in life. The first step being to
stop and be aware of the way one is spending time and energy, and then finding ways in which
one could realign one’s focuses in order to maximize one’s vitality and enriched life
experiences. Overall, not a new concept, as we find this to be a main staple in Buddhist
thought as well as in Existential and Positive Psychologies which may differ in some of the
ways the concept is applied.

Which brings us to 55% of the way through the book and Chapter 7 of 9 Chapters called
Changing the Patterns of Life . This is finally where the steak (or sweet potato
for you Veg’s) of the meal for thought is kept. We will explore this in PART 2