Reaching ?flow? to optimize work and play

Jamie Chamberlin
Monitor staff

Some people become so deeply focused when writing, they experience an almost euphoric state of joy and pleasure in the process. They lose track of time, are highly alert and feel they are writing to the best of their ability.

According to psychologist and best-selling author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD, (pronounced 'cheeks sent me high') such people are most likely experiencing 'flow,' a state of deep focus that occurs when people engage in challenging tasks that demand intense concentration and commitment. Flow occurs when a person?s skill level is perfectly balanced to the challenge level of a task that has clear goals and provides immediate feedback.

Almost any activity can produce flow if these elements are present, says Csikszentmihalyi, and making them a constant part of your life can enhance your work, personal relationships and leisure time.

Csikszentmihalyi, a professor of education and psychology at the University of Chicago, has studied the lives of thousands of people for more than 30 years in search of what makes people?s lives meaningful and satisfying. He?s found that most people live at two extremes?they are stressed by work or obligations or they are bored by spending their leisure time on activities such as watching television. But, says Csikszentmihalyi, people can live richer, happier lives by learning new skills and increasing the challenges they face each day.

'A typical day is full of anxiety and boredom,' says Csikszentmihalyi. 'Flow experiences provide the flashes of intense living against this dull background.'

Hopes of providing further insight on what makes life prosperous and full prompted APA President Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD, to invite Csikszentmihalyi to speak at APA?s 1998 Annual Convention in San Francisco. Csikszentmihalyi will speak on Friday, Aug. 14, 9?9:50 a.m. in the San Francisco Marriot, Yerba Buena Salon 8. In his talk, 'If we are so rich, why aren?t we happy?' Csikszentmihalyi will probe society?s interpretation of happiness.

His presentation will be 'a critique of the popular lifestyle our culture idolizes, the notion that you can have a good life by trying to amass as much as you possibly can,' he says. 'Research shows that active involvement in one?s work, family and community are the ways in which people end up having a good life.'

Csikszentmihalyi will participate in a panel discussion on how some of flow?s guiding principles?a positive attitude toward facing challenges, not allowing oneself to be controlled by time, social conventions and material desires?have similarities to the philosophies of Eastern religions.

At the International Applied Psychology Congress, on Aug. 9?14 in San Francisco, Csikszentmihalyi will also discuss how the flow experience can make work and education more satisfying and effective.

A positive outlook

Seligman describes Csikszentmihalyi as the world?s leading researcher on a subject that is near and dear to his heart?positive psychology. He says Csikszentmihalyi?s work on improving lives has been important in his own effort to encourage psychologists to focus on building human strengths. 'He is the brains behind positive psychology, and I am the voice,' says Seligman. Csikszentmihalyi is working with Seligman to engage young leading psychologists to focus on prevention and building human strength.

Csikszentmihalyi has written several books that expand on his theories about a rich life including, 'Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience,' (Harper & Row, 1990) and 'Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life' (Basic Books, 1997).

He is also a leading researcher on creativity. Csikszentmihalyi explored the lives of more than 90 of the world?s most creative people, such as author Madeline L?Engle and scientist Jonas Salk, to find out how creativity has been a force in their lives. He?s discovered that some highly creative people find satisfaction by inventing a career or job for themselves, like a scientist who creates a new field of study. These findings are described in his book 'Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention' (HarperCollins, 1996).

Practicing what he preaches

The researcher himself leads a challenging and creative life. He has written short stories for the New Yorker and book reviews for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago-Sun Times. He speaks four languages?Italian, Hungarian, English and German?and has translated numerous works of fiction and poetry. One of his previous projects is a study of the aesthetic experience of museum curators, art collectors and other people who are deeply involved in art.

In addition to his main talk, Csikszentmihalyi will present his findings from a five-year study on motivation he conducted with 1,000 gifted and talented adolescents. He has found that teens with little family support and who spend large amounts of time with peers instead of doing challenging activities fail to develop their abilities.

Contrary to what one might expect, he also found that adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds have higher levels of enthusiasm and optimism than those from affluent backgrounds. He also looked at teen-agers? perceptions about work and found they have unrealistically high expectations about what type of career they will have and how much money they will earn. Csikszentmihalyi attributes this to the changing nature of adult jobs and to lack of exposure to real work experiences.

'Most teen-agers have no role models for adult jobs,' he says. 'They have very little experience with what work really entails.'