3 ms·

One of my favorite quotes from his book, Flow: "The ultimate test for the ability to control the quality of experience is what a person does in solitude, with

One of my favorite quotes from his book, Flow: "The ultimate test for the ability to control the quality of experience is what a person does in solitude, with no external demands to give structure to attention. It is relatively easy to become involved with a job, to enjoy the company of friends, to be entertained in a theater or at a concert. But what happens when we are left to our own devices? Alone, when the dark night of the soul descends, are we forced into frantic attempts to distract the mind from its coming? Or are we able to take on activities that are not only enjoyable, but make the self grow?" ••• Csíkszentmihályi's Flow also introduced me to Seneca and Marcus Aurelius (although, I prefer Epictetus to Aurelius).

akkartik 5y ago
I wonder if future generations will totally misunderstand "left to own devices." No, it doesn't mean with your phone, tablet and watch.
- kashyapc 5y ago
  Yikes ... I didn't even consider the "devices == gadgets" angle when I was writing it (I'm old enough to have lived a decent portion of my life without any gadgets and gongs). I'll be charitable and hope that a sensible future reader will situate the book in its time and place.
DocTomoe 5y ago
> Csíkszentmihályi's Flow also introduced me to Seneca and Marcus Aurelius (although, I prefer Epictetus to Aurelius). Flow led me down the rabbit hole to philosophical Daoism. It is astonishing how closely intertwined philosophy and psychology turn out to be.
- TawandaMoyo 5y ago
  Felt the same too. Concepts like wu wei are clearly related to flow. And Taoism has a lot of stories that relate to flow, my favorite being Cook Ding cutting up an ox.
- kashyapc 5y ago
  Not at all astonishing. :-) Modern cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) originates[1] from the 2000-year-old work of Epictetus. Cicero memorably called philosophy as "the medicine of the mind". Going back to Socrates and Epictetus, philosophy was "a way of life", and not tying clever knots in thin air and untying them. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_ther...
- layer8 5y ago
  > It is astonishing how closely intertwined philosophy and psychology turn out to be. It’d be surprising if they weren’t, if you think about it. :)
- rgrieselhuber 5y ago
  Very much so. My early studies of Taoism were affected heavily by the notion that the philosophy was a response to an unknown cataclysm of some sort, I just wish I could track down the original source on that idea. Jung’s investigation into Aion is also connected somehow to this but it is an area I need to research further.
agumonkey 5y ago
And it's staggering that most social structures are impeding that. We need to rethink social interactions to focus on beneficial self/group growth, and not only the material/economical side.
leobg 5y ago
Well. In such situations, I turn to HN. Now what does that say about me?

akkartik 5y ago

I wonder if future generations will totally misunderstand "left to own devices." No, it doesn't mean with your phone, tablet and watch.

kashyapc 5y ago
Yikes ... I didn't even consider the "devices == gadgets" angle when I was writing it (I'm old enough to have lived a decent portion of my life without any gadgets and gongs). I'll be charitable and hope that a sensible future reader will situate the book in its time and place.

DocTomoe 5y ago

> Csíkszentmihályi's Flow also introduced me to Seneca and Marcus Aurelius (although, I prefer Epictetus to Aurelius). Flow led me down the rabbit hole to philosophical Daoism. It is astonishing how closely intertwined philosophy and psychology turn out to be.

TawandaMoyo 5y ago
Felt the same too. Concepts like wu wei are clearly related to flow. And Taoism has a lot of stories that relate to flow, my favorite being Cook Ding cutting up an ox.
kashyapc 5y ago
Not at all astonishing. :-) Modern cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) originates[1] from the 2000-year-old work of Epictetus. Cicero memorably called philosophy as "the medicine of the mind". Going back to Socrates and Epictetus, philosophy was "a way of life", and not tying clever knots in thin air and untying them. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_therapy#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_emotive_behavior_ther...
layer8 5y ago
> It is astonishing how closely intertwined philosophy and psychology turn out to be. It’d be surprising if they weren’t, if you think about it. :)
rgrieselhuber 5y ago
Very much so. My early studies of Taoism were affected heavily by the notion that the philosophy was a response to an unknown cataclysm of some sort, I just wish I could track down the original source on that idea. Jung’s investigation into Aion is also connected somehow to this but it is an area I need to research further.

agumonkey 5y ago

And it's staggering that most social structures are impeding that. We need to rethink social interactions to focus on beneficial self/group growth, and not only the material/economical side.

leobg 5y ago

Well. In such situations, I turn to HN. Now what does that say about me?