I'm sure you've all felt it. FLOW. It's the "state of effortless concentration and enjoyment," according to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the leading expert on positive psychology. It happens when you "forget yourself and act effortlessly with a heightened sense of awareness of the here and now."
Think of the last time you fully immersed yourself in a project or activity where you lost track of time. That's flow. It's usually voluntary, challenging, with clear goals toward success. And to me, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world.
I most often find flow when I'm doing something creative, like recording music, practicing the ukulele or writing my blog. I feel such an exhilarating sense of accomplishment. Like I'm pursuing my life's purpose.
Someone else may find flow in outdoor physical activities such as surfing or snowboarding, while others find it in social settings, playing with children, or having deep, intellectual conversations.
This article suggests that flow is the secret to ultimate happiness. People who experience large amounts of flow in their lives develop other positive traits such as high concentration, greater health and increased self-esteem. Makes sense, right?
So tell me friends, I'd love to know. Where do YOU find flow?
{Pre-edited images via: 1. It's A Beautiful; 2. Habitual Bliss}
