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Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Quotes

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Famous Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Quotes

“Problems are solved only when we devote a great deal of attention to them and in a creative way...to have a good life, it is not enough to remove what is wrong with it. We also need a positive goal, otherwise why keep going? Creativity is one answer to that question - It provides one of the most exciting models for living.”

WayNeedsEnoughProblemGoalAnswersDealsAttentionCreativityCreativeModelsExcitingRemoveKeep GoingGood Life
Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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“Flow is the process of achieving happiness through control over one's inner life. The optimal state of inner experience is order in consciousness. This happens when we focus our attention (psychic energy) on realistic goals and when our skills match the challenges we face.”

StatesHappensFacesOrderEnergyProcessGoalChallengesAttentionConsciousnessFocusAchieveSkillsFlowRealisticPsychicsInner LifeOptimalChallenges We FaceRealistic GoalsAchieving Happiness
Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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“...perhaps the most distinguishing trait of visionary leaders is that they believe in a goal that benefits not only themselves, but others as well. It is such vision that attracts the psychic energy of other people, and makes them willing to work beyond the call of duty for the organization.”

PeopleInspirationalBelieveWellsEnergyGoalWorkBusinessLeaderVisionWillingDutyBenefitsOrganizationTraitsPsychicsVisionariesCall Of DutyVisionary Leaders
Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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“Half a century ago, the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote that happiness cannot be attained by wanting to be happy - it must come as the unintended consequence of working for a goal greater than oneself.”

HappinessGoalBusinessHalfGreaterCenturyConsequenceOneselfPsychiatristWant To Be HappyHalf A CenturyUnintended ConsequencesViktor Frankl
Book:Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning
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“It is when we act freely, for the sake of the action itself rather than for ulterior motives, that we learn to become more than what we were. When we choose a goal and invest ourselves in it to the limits of concentration, whatever we do will be enjoyable. And once we have tasted this joy, we will redouble our efforts to taste it again. This is the way the self grows.”

WaySelfActionJoyGrowsGoalEffortTasteLimitsSakeMotiveConcentrationEnjoyableUlterior Motive
Book:Flow: The Psychology of Happiness
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“Most of us become so rigidly fixed in the ruts carved out by genetic programming and social conditioning that we ignore the options of choosing any other course of action. Living exclusively by genetic and social instructions is fine as long as everything goes well. But the moment bioloical or social goals are frustrated- which in the long run is inevitable - a person must formulate new goals, and create a new flow activity for himself, or else he will always waste his energies in inner turmoil.”

WellsPersonsLongMomentsRunningActionCoursesEnergySocialGoalFineActivityWasteFlowInevitableFixedProgrammingInstructionLong RunsFrustratedConditioningTurmoilRutsNew Goal
Book:Flow: the psychology of optimal experience
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“But to change all existence into a flow experience, it is not sufficient to learn merely how to control moment-by-moment states of consciousness. It is also necessary to have an overall context of goals for the events of everyday life to make senseTo create harmony in whatever one does is the last task that the flow theory presents to whose who wish to attain optimal experience; it is a task that involves transforming the entirety of life into a single flow activity, with unified goals that provide constant purpose.”

DoeStatesMomentsLastsPurposeWishGoalExistenceConsciousnessEventsTheoryActivityFlowTasksHarmonyConstantEverydayMake SenseSufficientEveryday LifeTransformingUnifiedStates Of ConsciousnessEntiretyOptimal
Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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“A paycheck is a sufficient impetus to motivate some employees to do the minimum amount to get by, and for others, the challenge of getting ahead in the organization provides a satisfactory focus for a while. But these incentives alone are rarely strong enough to inspire workers to give their best to their work. For this a vision is needed, an overarching goal that gives meaning to the job, so that an individual can forget himself in the task and experience flow without doubts or regrets. The most important component of such a vision is an ingredient we call soul.”

GivingImportantSoulEnoughJobsIndividualStrongGoalChallengesWorkForgetVisionDoubtFocusInspireRegretAmountNeededFlowTasksOrganizationWorkersSufficientEmployeeIngredientsMinimumComponentsIncentivesStrong EnoughPaychecksImpetusForget Him
Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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“To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire system that makes creativity possible. Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals.”

PersonsArtHandsIndividualGoalAbilitySituationCreativityCreativeRemarkableBe CreativeAbility To Adapt
Book:Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
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