Mastering the Skill of Feeling Happiness - Flow
How can one break free when emotions take control?
When reason and emotion clash, an inner struggle erupts within us.
Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and pioneer of positive psychology, first introduced the concept of “flow” in his seminal 1990 work Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, published by Harper & Row. Now regarded as one of the landmark discoveries in the study of human happiness, flow has been widely adopted across education, management, sports, and the arts.
What Is “Flow”?
“Flow” describes a state of complete absorption and focused engagement in an activity, often called being “in the zone,” where one loses track of time and self-consciousness and emerges feeling energized and fulfilled. Csikszentmihalyi argued that the most enjoyable moments in life are not restful, but occur when individuals apply their mental and physical capacities to the fullest in challenging tasks.
“Flow is the optimal state of consciousness where we perform our best and feel our happiest.”
The Emergence of Flow
Csikszentmihalyi identified six core components of the flow experience:
- Intense and focused concentration on the present moment
- Merging of action and awareness
- Loss of reflective self-consciousness
- A sense of personal control over the situation or activity
- Temporal distortion—an altered perception of time
- Intrinsic reward—finding the activity itself inherently rewarding
Additionally, three further elements are often highlighted:
- Clear goals (providing direction)
- Immediate feedback (verifying progress)
- Balance between challenge and skill (neither anxiety nor boredom)
The Concept of Psychic Entropy
When our stream of information exceeds our capacity to process it—leading to confusion, anxiety, and scattered attention—Csikszentmihalyi termed this state “psychic entropy”. Flow, by contrast, represents “psychic negentropy,” where awareness is ordered, information is filtered, and mental energy is optimally directed.
| Feature | Psychic Entropy | Psychic Negentropy (Flow) |
|---|---|---|
| Information | Overwhelming, chaotic | Controlled, focused |
| Emotional | Anxiety, frustration | Energy, satisfaction |
| Experience | Distracted, exhausted | Flow, joy |
Three Steps to Enter Flow
- Set a challenging goal with clear criteria
Define what you want to achieve and ensure it slightly exceeds your current skill level. - Eliminate distractions
Allocate uninterrupted time to align your awareness and intention, typically requiring about 10–15 minutes of focused attention to settle into flow. - Capture immediate feedback
Continuously monitor your progress and adjust if necessary, sustaining the flow loop of challenge, feedback, and engagement.
“The quality of life depends on the quality of consciousness.”
Applying Flow Beyond Work
Flow benefits extend beyond personal productivity: in sports and the arts, practitioners report peak performance and creativity; in education, students experience deeper learning; and in relationships, couples cultivating shared goals and timely feedback can sustain intimacy and growth.
Finally, a closing thought from Flow:
—— Flow
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
- Author: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- Original Publication: 1990 (Harper & Row)
- Categories: Positive Psychology
— From @不略
