What Is Flow in Positive Psychology?
This concept was first introduced by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who is one of the pioneers of positive psychology. In general, a flow experience is characterized by 6 features:
– A high focus on the current moments
– Losing tract of time
– A lack of focus to the self
– A full concentration in the current actions
– A sense of personal control in the circumstance or activity
– Experiencing the circumstance or activity as intrinsically rewarding
In this state, people are completely immersed in what they are doing, which can be very enjoyable and rewarding. Many people from all backgrounds, such as writers, musicians, athletes, and more, usually report this experience. They tend to lose track of time and have an intense focus on the current tasks. Psychologists believe that people are only in a flow state when they have both high challenges and high skills at the same time. It has been shown that there may be a link between a flow experience and better well-being and happiness. [10]
