"Flow was first formally defined in 1990 in the seminal book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (MEE-hy CHEEK-sent-mee-HAH- yee), the world-renowned researcher and cofounder with Martin Seligman of the field of positive psychology. This research describes flow as a psychological state in which an individual experiences some or all of the following: Total immersion in what they are doing. Time standing still. Complete concentration and focus."
"Flow shows up when the challenge at hand matches your abilities - no harder, no easier. The task can be simple or sophisticated; what matters is that your skills and their demands lock into equilibrium, pulling your full attention into the moment. Hit that sweet spot, and flow can happen anywhere. Bill goes into flow chopping onions for dinner, Dave on his sailboat with a good breeze."
Flow is a psychological state characterized by total immersion, time distortion, intense concentration, social responsiveness in group settings, and profound satisfaction. Flow emerges when task challenge and personal abilities align closely, creating an equilibrium that absorbs attention regardless of task complexity. Activities as varied as cooking, sailing, or competitive sports can induce flow when skill and challenge match. Experiencing flow often feels deeply meaningful and can produce euphoria during the activity. Team sports commonly show heightened mutual responsiveness during flow. Flow is widely recognized as 'being in the zone' and represents an optimal experience of engagement and performance.
Read at Big Think
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