"Hello, my name is Loopy and I'm not experiencing life in an optimal manner"
Ok, let's get serious. In this time of hostilities it is more important than ever to recognize why humans try so hard to conquer the outer world. Mihaly concentrates entirely on how to achieve flow, therefore prescribing proven techniqes to control your state of mind (inner world) and improving the quality of your life.
Flow is simply immersing yourself in an activity to the point of losing sense of time. That activity can't be too hard or too easy, just enough so that you instinctively know that you are learning and expanding. Learning to effortlessly drive a golf ball, play guitar, converse, dance and work can all provide the state of Flow.
Mihaly starts the book off with an interesting general visit to the happiness subject and asks all the right questions. He presents a strong argument focusing on how humans throughout history have focused on how health, beauty, money and power will be our shining knights, yet we only have to look inside ourselves and stretch ourselves to experience precious moments. That perfect golf swing. Writing a great review. Cooking a great meal. It's just too easy in our society to flick channels and grab a greasy burger. You have to create optimal moments.
In the chapter discussing consciousness he tackles a tricky subject by first admitting it is a complex subject, but offers some interesting explanations. Consciousness can be "intentionally ordered information". Our conscious actively shapes events for us providing a sum of all we have heard, seen, felt, hope and suffered. He is one of the only authors that I stuck with, on this complex subject. I have a clearer understanding as to why I do things. This is an important step to changing my ways.
Mihaly also looks at optimal experiences in our culture, thus looking at the bigger picture. His insight in how the industrial Revolution actually shortened some lifespans and put children at work very early is a great example how our behavior evolved innocently until it was too late. Even today we are working longer hours with modern technology. Is our present culture in the optimal state? I don't think so.
The book also looks at developing Flow through the body (yoga) and senses, with examples of the joy of seeing and hearing (music).
The subject of Flow and work is well presented as he provides examples of how people have found optimal experiences in mundane jobs.
The family is also discussed and it is easy to understand how we become dull with our family, neglecting to input energy and time.
Mihaly is one of those authors that truly cares for the human race and makes an effort to solve some very complex questions with a common sense approach. Now I want get out there and seize the day.
In the flow experience, one loses a sense of self in that one expands beyond self to an "undreamed of state" of consciousness. One is lost in one's work. "Everything the body can do is potentially enjoyable" he tell us. He quotes Thomas Carlyle saying, "Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness."
There are some highly useful insights in this wonderful book. He causes you to realize overcoming obstacles is not the exception, but the expectation in life. Flow is the process whereby creatively overcoming challenges is redefined in a positive perspective.
80% of adults say they would work if they had enough money not to. The problem that exists is these same people can't wait to get home from their jobs.. even though they said they would work if money weren't an issue..? It's not supposed to make sense because it doesn't, these people are working for far off rewards and not enjoying their task at hand.
By age 12 the American child associates only negative things with anything labeled as work. The view of work needs to be changed. This book does just that.
Working only for distant rewards will lead to regret and eventual disappointment. It is by learning how to enjoy any task can one get the most enjoyment out of life.
Concepts are introduced that are really cool, and I'm not just talking about the "oh that's cool" cool I'm talking about the "holy sh*t, are you serious?" cool. A lot of wisdom in the book, give it a shot.
