Chapter 1
After having read the first five chapters of Flow,
it's difficult for me to pinpoint what was or wasn't obvious before
having picked up the book. Although it seems overwhelmingly apparent, I
keep casually telling my friends and family about Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi's assertion that, "While happiness itself is sought
for its own sake, every other goal…is valued only because we expect
that it will make us happy" (1). Even though it's something I think
most people know on a basic level, seeking happiness for its own sake
is not something that I consciously do. I seek other things, like an
education, a job, an apartment, and I expect those things to make me
happy. What I find most fascinating, however, is Csikszentmihalyi's
belief that happiness "cannot be obtained by a direct route" (2). As he
points out, the more someone sets happiness as the ultimate goal, the
more he tends to miss the mark. Instead, we have to focus on all those
goals of getting a job, finding a mate, or becoming a better rock
climber, etc. in order to feel the "unintended side-effect" of
happiness (2).
Chapter 2
I like Csikszentmihalyi's definition of
conciousness. Before reading Chapter 2, I understood consciousness as a
state of self-awareness. Csikszentmihalyi notes that it is more than
that. Consciousness is when we are able to control our thoughts,
feelings, and intentions (26). I was fascinated by the example of the
dreamer who thinks, "I wish I could be of help," but is unable to act
on her impulse (26). This made me realize that I take for granted the
opportunities I have to take action, because unless I am sleeping, I am
in control of the decisions I make.
As Csikszentmihalyi describes, at many times things may seem to be out
of our control because of the weather, genetics, or the media, but it
is within our capacity to simply think more positively about an
experience. We are in much greater control than we acknowledge. On the
other hand, I feel that it's far more difficult than Csikszentmihalyi
lets on to become the focused rock climber or the fulfilled assembly
line worker. Outside experience, like the way our parents raise us,
determines how and when we experience flow.
Chapter 3
I've recently become aware of the micro-flow
habits I've developed over time. I twist pens in my right hand while I
think about errands I must run. The faster I can spin the pen, the
better. Depending on how the pen-spinning goes, sometimes I consider
what it would be like to be a baton twirler. It's at this point that my
micro-flow stops, and instead I get distracted. I'm very interested in
Professor Maier-Leibnitz and his finger tapping techniques to help
measure trains of thought. Although I doubt pen twirling will allow me
to do this, there's comfort in knowing that the strange things I do
with my hands when I'm lost in thought (potentially) have a purpose. In
this way, I think Csikszentmihalyi starts to discuss flow as a sort of
mind exercise. If I can discipline myself to twirl a pen purposely
enough to measure time with the action, then I can achieve flow. If I
can do this, I could probably do something a lot more interesting with
my time as well.
Chapter 4
According to Csikszentmihalyi, it helps to
have the right personality for flow. The poets in prison who translated
Whitman via a bar of soap, a toothpick, and a shoe, had to be willing
to entertain themselves while being held captive. However, even if one
is not predisposed to an "autotelic" personality, being in control of
ones consciousness is "a skill one can perfect" (93). I was shocked to
discover that people who can find joy in a variety of situations are
better at tuning out unnecessary stimuli (87). If anything, I would
have expected the autotelic personality to easily glean information
from a variety of stimuli at a faster and more organized pace than
anyone else. I expected an autotelic person to process information more
quickly and efficiently, but it seems the real skill is in ignoring
information he doesn't need in order to focus on one or two important
bits. It's the filtering of information that is the real asset.
Chapter 5
Csikszentmihalyi focuses so much on rock climbers
and chess players for the first few chapters, I was truly delighted to
read about the senses' relationship with flow. It's one thing to eat,
but it's all together different to savor the flavors and aroma of food.
Our senses are arguably the best attributes we have as humans, since we
can take great pleasure in listening to music, seeing art, tasting
food, etc. Again, I feel like I take this basic ability completely for
granted, as much as I forget that people can become addicted to
satisfying their senses. Flow is about balance, as with yoga, and I
think it's important to acknowledge that flow is great as long as you
can discipline yourself to find it in healthy places and use it
effectively. Of course, it sounds so easy on paper.
Also, my favorite quote so far appeared in this chapter: "Way to go, God. You're almost as good as Kodak" (108).
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