As was so eloquently stated in the article, "the important thing is to enjoy the activity for its own sake, and to know that what matters is not the result, but the control one is acquiring over one's attention" (Csikszentmihalyi 1997). Acquiring a mindset of flow is not an easy task, but it is one that will reap many benefits if actually done the right way. Instead of getting things done or conducting specific tasks just because it needs to be done, one needs to take a step back and truly indulge themselves with the particular task at hand. It may seem more difficult to focus on the task and understand it -- become one with it -- than it is to just complete something and get it over with. But what needs to be realized is that the idea of understanding and getting to know oneself is what is important, and what the real end goal should be.
Roxanna's comments are right on target when it comes to flow. She states that laziness is a huge factor in determining what is done when, and how things are done. The great civilizations before us left us the gifts that were made possible through their personal achievement of flow. No longer is civilization inspired as it once was to create new things. Everything now is dependent on technology which in itself captures the idea of multitasking; this goes completely against the whole notion of flow. However, laziness and routine (another concept that was seen as a barrier to achieving flow)...
Every society has those that fall into the mundane everyday tasks. But the few individuals that break out of that mold and in turn contribute their personal inspirations to the world are the ones that manage to achieve flow. Roxanna captures this concept in her comments and explains really well what the idea of flow entails.
Melody's comments are precisely a reflection of my own. As previously stated, indulging oneself in a book and literally becoming the characters that one is reading about entails an example of flow. One becomes so intertwined in the story line, that what is in reality in one's surroundings becomes trivial and capable of being ignored. The attention that one can fully dedicate to the task at hand fully encompasses what it means to achieve a flow state of mind. This is the type of feeling that needs to be put into everything that needs to be done in order to truly appreciate its value and sincerely give the task at hand one's all. Melody does a great job in truly capturing her idea of flow and in describing what this concept means to her.
