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Quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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Flow: the psychology of optimal experience

This book investigates the phenomenon of flow, a state of concentration and engagement where individuals experience a sense of timelessness and complete absorption in their activities. The author examines the psychological underpinnings of flow and its implications for personal and professional development. more

Author

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a renowned psychologist known for his research on the concept of flow. His work focuses on human creativity and happiness, particularly the psychological state of being fully immersed in an activity. more

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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.”

“The rules themselves are clear enough, and within everyone’s reach. But many forces, both within ourselves and in the environment, stand in the way. It is a little like trying to lose weight: everyone knows what it takes, everyone wants to do it, yet it is next to impossible for so many.”

“A self that is only differentiated - not integrated - may attain great individual accomplishments, but risks being mired in self-centered egotism. By the same token, a person who self is based exclusively on integration will be well connected and secure, but lack autonomous individuality. Only when a person invests equal amounts of psychic energy in these two processes and avoids both selfishness and conformity is the self likely to reflect complexity.”