Flow

A meaningful life is within reach for everybody, and can be achieved by entering flow: a highly focused mental state resulting in productivity and growth. By ignoring external rewards or opinions, practicing activities for their inherent value allows every moment to feel joyful and important. Learning to turn our attention towards activities that support our goals allows us to spend more time lost in a state of growth and play. This can be achieved by developing a heightened appreciation for the small details in the environment around us, and by facing difficult challenges without fear. By learning how to enter flow states in all aspects of our lives, we grow more efficiently as people and as citizens of the world. Finding meaning starts with turning off the television and finding ways to break a sweat and get creative.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a Hungarian psychology professor, researcher, and leader of the positive psychology movement. He is the former head of psychology at the University of Chicago. Currently he is the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is a notable researcher of happiness and creativity. He is the author of many books and over 120 articles and book chapters. His works are highly influential and widely cited.