Frequently Experiencing "Flow", More Prosperous

We all want to be happy and feel the satisfaction in life. We expect a psychic prosperous life. For that, there is one simple thing that is necessary but may rarely we do, that is to enjoy what we do to achieve flow.

Every day we are faced with the task or the target to be achieved within a certain deadline. Many things can be the cause of our time trapped in a situation of being chased. Maybe because it pushed the economy needs, the many roles that embrace, become part of a system that prioritizes speed, etc..

In addition, some of us may be faced with the task more of a monotonous, boring. There are also brothers and sisters who are always faced with a stressful task, such as working in the midst of the noise or hot furnace in a steel mill, etc..

Various circumstances that cause us seldom able to enjoy what we are doing. As a result of further, perhaps we are experiencing stress, mental fatigue, or even burn-out.

This situation is clearly far from the picture of happiness or life satisfaction that we recall. To be more able to feel more prosperous psychic (satisfied and happy) we should have more experience flow when doing something, that is by enjoying it.

Flow, What is it?

Flow of course not equal to fly, but two things seem related. When someone does something, like listening to favorite music with tasteful pleasures, his consciousness changed. He no longer feels itself as separate things with the music.

Self-absorbed with something that was done, that's flow! During the time of such symptoms is sometimes called a fly (fly). In fact, fly has a connotation of flying conditions for using drugs. Now, flow and fly is similar, but not the same.

Flow start investigated by Csikszentmihalyi in 1975, and are now starting to become a popular topic in conjunction with Crash Psychology Positive Psychology (Psychology that focuses on strength and psychological well-being of humans). Csikszentmihalyi researching this in the context of his research on the psychological well-being. After interviewing more than 200 respondents, Csikszentmihalyi gave birth to the definition of flow as follows:

Flow describes a holistic sensation that happen when we take action with the full involvement ... It is a condition in which the action for the current action by the internal logic that seems to not require the intervention of consciousness in us. We experience it as a unified flowing from one moment to the next moment, in which we feel is in control of our actions, and in this case there is little difference between self and environment, between stimulus and response; or between past, present, and the future. (Csikszentmihalyi, in Compton, 2005)

In his study of people in America and Europe, Csikszentmihalyi found that about 20 percent of the respondents who claimed to have experience flow frequently, sometimes several times a day. Only about 15 percent of respondents who claimed to have never had a flow experience, and also very little of respondents who experienced an intensive flow.

The respondents who experienced flow, either an intensive or medium, recognizes the strong link between the flow of psychological well-being. Flow feels very good and is an element of fun / joy / pleasure.

Flow and Self-Actualization

People who have self-actualization is a person who has been developing its potentialities. According to Maslow's research results, the stage of self-actualization can only be achieved if the individual has satisfied the four lower level needs (physiological, safety, love, appreciation) and upholds the Being-values. Being-values consists of 14 values / needs. One of them is the value / need without the effort (effortlessness).

Now, about those values we now see more clearly in the phenomenon of the flow. As described in the definition above, the flow is a condition in which the action for the current action by the internal logic without the need for awareness, and we feel we are in control of these actions. Clearly, this condition is the condition without any effort.

In people who have self-actualization, a state without this effort into the value or necessity. They continue to develop expertise or skills, in order to reach a state without any effort. Thus, it can be concluded that those who have self-actualization more experienced flow.

In a state of less skilled to do something that's our job, we will feel what we do to solve this task as something that management efforts. Like when operating the computer program that is not that familiar, learn strumming his guitar, we do so with great effort, without being able to enjoy it. Such circumstances do not allow us to experience flow.

Well, at first glance we have seen that the flow associated with mastering a challenging activity and requires skill. This is one of the prerequisites to be able to actualize themselves.

Flow Increase Psychological Welfare

Csikszentmihalyi in his book in 1990 stating that the quality of our lives is determined by our ability to control our consciousness. The ability to produce regularity and greater psychological well-being. Conversely, lack of ability to control the disturbance of consciousness will result in dissatisfaction and a variety of conditions.

The definition of control (control) in this case are learned skills that include a balanced regulation of thoughts, emotions, behavior, and attention. Flow helps create order in the consciousness of this kind. That is why flow is considered as a state that produces psychological welfare.

The ability to control awareness and increase the likelihood of optimal experience that will increase the sense of winning (the sense of Mastery), a sense of participating in life, and the ability to determine the content of life from one event to another event.

Csikszentmihalyi observed what happened along with the experience of flow after flow experience. He explained that during the flow, the increase in welfare due to more efficient organization of consciousness. During the flow, the available information in accordance with the purpose of consciousness, and in that condition the psychic energy will flow without effort.

Csikszentmihalyi states: "When information is entered in the consciousness of harmony with our objectives, the psychic energy to flow without the need of the business. Thus, part of the experience of flow is the reduction of internal conflicts that exist among different objectives. After going flow, there is increased awareness further. In addition there is a feeling that the self becomes more integrated. "

Csikszentmihalyi believes that the ability to be fully absorbed and the condition of interest in daily experience is one important ingredient for happiness and experience the fullness of life. He said that the first step to better enjoy life is to learn to make up their daily activities to gain valuable experience.

Meant to engineer everyday experience by Csikszentmihalyi is acting as much as possible by finding the best balance between skill and challenge.