Big Idea Daily | Flow
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The Psychology of Optimal Experienceby Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi |
“Why is it that, despite having achieved previously undreamed-of miracles of progress, we seem more helpless in facing life than our less privileged ancestors were? The answer seems clear: while humankind collectively has increased its material powers a thousandfold, it has not advanced very far in terms of improving the content of experience.”MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI |
BIG IDEA
Contents of Our Consciousness
FROM THE BOOK“A person can make himself happy, or miserable, regardless of what is actually happening ‘outside,’ just by changing the contents of consciousness.
We all know individuals who can transform hopeless situations into challenges to be overcome, just through the force of their personalities. This ability to persevere despite obstacles and setbacks is the quality people most admire in others, and justly so; it is probably the most important trait not only for succeeding in life, but for enjoying it as well.
To develop this trait, one must find ways to order consciousness so as to be in control of feelings and thoughts. It is best not to expect shortcuts will do the trick.”
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Brian's Notes
As we discuss in nearly every one of these Notes, our situations DO NOT determine our state of wellbeing.
In Csikszentmihalyi’s words, it’s all about how we organize the “contents of our consciousness.” And, if we intend to develop this trait, it’s best if we don’t expect shortcuts to do the trick. :)
The book is all about how we can organize the contents of our consciousness to be in a state of “flow” consistently. More on that in a moment.
For now, let’s take a peek at the importance of taking personal responsibility for the control of our consciousness and the danger of trying to institutionalize it:
Big Ideas
01: CONTENTS
02: BUDDHA, JESUS &
03: KNOWING + DOING
04: ATTENTION
05: BOREDOM, ANXIETY
“We may call intentions the force that keeps information in consciousness ordered... They act as magnetic fields, moving attention toward some objects and away from others, keeping our mind focused on some stimuli in preference to others.”MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI |
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