{"id":239,"date":"2015-07-11T11:55:48","date_gmt":"2015-07-11T11:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.menteyemociones.com\/en\/?p=239"},"modified":"2015-08-13T18:37:46","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T18:37:46","slug":"flow-how-to-be-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.menteyemociones.com\/en\/flow-how-to-be-happy\/","title":{"rendered":"Flow: The 8 factors of enjoyment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think of something you love to do..<\/p>\n

Now observe\u00a0how you behave when you’re doing it ..<\/p>\n

Allow to\u00a0come to your mind some activity that when you perform it\u00a0you naturally concentrate fully on it, developing your skills effortlessly .. you are so immersed in the experience that you disappear in it, time flies\u00a0and at the end you get a good feeling of completion\u00a0and satisfaction ..<\/p>\n

… there yet?<\/p>\n

\"water-flow\"<\/a>Now come\u00a0back here .. You,ve just recreated\u00a0a flow, optimal or happy experience, a state of completion that allows you to enjoy fully the present moment by\u00a0getting involved in it, developing your skills and getting instant gratification.<\/p>\n

This state of being is different from a merely pleasant experience, because we can grow with it, overcome challenges and get more satisfaction. We’re doing something that we\u00a0consider valuable, which has interest in itself (for the simple act of doing it), that allows\u00a0us\u00a0to accomplish\u00a0a little challenge and to which we\u00a0devote all of your attention, regardless of external circumstances or people, and also regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n

To the study of this matter, psychology professor and researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi devoted his life for several years. In his book, ‘Flow’ (1990), he describes, not the formula for happiness (something that does not exist, cause that is a creation of each individual), but the common ground \u00a0of happy experiences of thousands of people. The conclusion was that achieving happiness does not depend on action we are doing, but on the quality of attention\u00a0that we dedicate to it.<\/p>\n

'The shape and content of life depend on how attention has been used. We create ourselves by how we invest this energy. Memories, thoughts and feelings are all shaped by how we use them, and it,s an energy under our control, to do with as we please. Hence, attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of our experience'.<\/span><\/pre>\n
According to the results of his research, happiness is not something that happens by itself, does not depend on external events but rather on\u00a0how we experience them\u00a0within, where we place our attention, which is something we can nourish and develop.<\/p>\n
Therefore, we can enjoy whatever we do if we put all our attention into\u00a0it, not in making things better or worse or in achieving\u00a0approval, but\u00a0just for\u00a0themselves, dedicating ourselves entirely to\u00a0them, regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n
'Learning to enjoy and find meaning in the continuous stream of life experiences we become independent of the concepts that we learned about what makes us happy, and therefore become masters of our happiness and life'.<\/span><\/pre>\n
So we can flow when we,re hiking, learning to play an instrument or reading a book, but also taking a shower, washing the dishes or cleaning the house. The key\u00a0is to stay focused on the task at hand and the goals we set out for them (no matter if it,s\u00a0feeling more intensely the soap on our hands or feel the bodily sensations while we,re showering ..), regardless of external circumstances. In this way, we can even turn\u00a0unfortunate events into stimulating challenges that keep us energized and purposeful, as long as we turn our attention to the right place.<\/p>\n
'To overcome the anxiety and depression of contemporary life we \u200b\u200bhave to become independent of social surroundings and stop responding to their rewards and punishments. This is accomplished by learning to provide rewards to ourselves, developing the ability to find enjoyment and purpose regardless of external circumstances'.\r\n<\/span><\/pre>\n
1.The 8 factors of enjoyment:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
1. It involves performing a task that can be completed.
\n2. We must be able to concentrate on what we are doing.
\n3 . The concentration is possible because the task has clear\u00a0goals<\/p>\n
4. The work provides us immediate feedback.
\n5. We engage fully effortlessly,\u00a0which\u00a0takes away\u00a0from consciousness the concerns and frustrations of everyday life.
\n6.There is a sense of control over the actions that provides satisfaction.
\n7. The concern for the self disappears, and paradoxically the sense of self emerges stronger after the flow experience (we have grown by\u00a0developing skills).
\n8. The sense\u00a0of time is altered.<\/p>\n
The result of this type of involvement is that we get out of the experience with a strengthened self, which has grown and become more complex, by\u00a0having developed\u00a0new skills, and at the same time has forgotten the\u00a0self, putting aside all small worries and frustrations (which take\u00a0much energy on a daily basis). Hence the feeling of satisfaction. As with everything else in life, the more involvement, the greater the challenges, higher growth and greater joy. And so the flow itself leads to creativity, accomplishment and an outstanding\u00a0performance.<\/p>\n
'Hundreds of times everyday we are reminded of the vulnerability of our self and everytime this happens psychic energy is lost trying to restore order to consciousness.But in flow there is no room for self scrutiny because enjoyable activities have clear goals, stable rules and challenges well matched to skills, there is little opportunity for the self to be threatened<\/span>'.<\/pre>\n
Since these are the ingredients to inner states of happiness, and we can reach them at\u00a0any time, place and events, what is it that prevents us from recognizing, maintaining and \/ or having more of them?<\/p>\n
2. What prevents us from flowing?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
    \n
  • Basically, we are heavily\u00a0distracted most of the time, without no\u00a0control over our attention.
    \nThis is because we live in an environment of constant external stimuli:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    1. 24\/7\u00a0technology, with all sorts of devices that continually interrupt us.<\/li>\n
    2. Fast-paced lifestyle and on autopilot, which doesn,t allow to give more space or attention to anything we do.<\/li>\n
    3. Social and cultural environment in which our attention is constantly guided to external stimuli.<\/li>\n
    4. By the natural tendency of the mind to wander: judging or analyzing the past or the future and preventing us from appreciating and surrendering to what is in the present moment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      • Secondly, this type of care requires perseverance and discipline, again because\u00a0our mind is used to operate in automatic pilot and spend the minimum energy. Setting distractions aside, devoting extra attention and working on challenges, no matter how small, requires effort.<\/li>\n
      • Finally, the greatest obstacle we face to flow in our experience is that the natural state of our mind is chaos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        'Developing attention allows us not only more enjoyable experiences but also prevent mental chaos, our natural state<\/span>'.<\/pre>\n
        Left alone and at its free will, our\u00a0mind works to create and attempting to solve situations, worrying about our little self and all his possible problems (most of them invented). As Mark Twain said, ‘I am an old man who has lived a long and difficult life with a large number of problems, most of which never happened.’<\/em><\/p>\n
        3. How to get more flow-happiness in the everyday life<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
        Training our attention,\u00a0freeing ourselves\u00a0from external pressures and achieving a self-contained and self-motivated self with intrinsic goals are the keys to\u00a0a more fulfilling\u00a0life. Here are some requirements and ways to achieve this:<\/p>\n
          \n
        1. Training our attention. Many mindfulness and meditation techniques of mindfulness help us control our attention. We can start by focusing on a particular object, like a mantra, a candle or one’s breath for 5 minutes. Practiced regularly this allows us to develop a more focused attention.<\/li>\n
        2. Finding goals that motivate ourselves, with no expectations of getting anything from the outside, as approval or reward.<\/li>\n
        3. Practicing something you like (with renewed attention).<\/li>\n
        4. Learn new things.<\/li>\n
        5. Choose a specific daily activity (either showering or washing dishes) and perform\u00a0it with wider attention than usual: go\u00a0slowly, enjoying the sensations that arises, focus on one thing at a time ..<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          'Flow experiences are the antidote to restore order to consciousness, occupying the mind in something different, which makes the sense of self disappear and merge\u00a0with the surroundings<\/span>.'<\/pre>\n
          4. A happy life is also full of meaning<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
          Finally, the flow theory (and of life itself) speaks of the need to find meaning in whatever we do to feel that we,ve\u00a0lived a happy life.<\/p>\n
          According to Cs\u00edkszentmih\u00e1lyi, to have an optimal experience of life is ultimately based on whether we,ve come out successful in the task of bringing order into our consciousness or not. Not just to accumulate\u00a0the highest number of joyful experiences enjoyed moment to moment, but\u00a0to give them an overall\u00a0greater sense.<\/p>\n
          To turn\u00a0our entire existence into a flow experience involves paying attention and setting a global goal to develop consistently, knowing what we dedicate and devote themselves to it effectively.<\/p>\n
          Whether it is caring for our family, protecting animals or developing our full potential in whatever area we choose, having a goal and taking the appropriate actions\u00a0that\u00a0leads to it (regardless of the outcome) brings harmony to\u00a0our minds, the\u00a0ultimate state of happiness.<\/p>\n
          —<\/p>\n
          Now I wonder how this is for you ..<\/p>\n
          Think for a moment what things make you flow in your life, in which things you enjoy most spending your time and energy and\/or what your overall goal is, what motivates most of your actions. I,d really appreciate it if you\u00a0tell me in the comments \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n
           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
          Think of something you love to do.. 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