Name: Flow, the secret to happiness
Uploaded: 2008-10-23T01:00:00Z
Duration: 18 min 41 s
Description: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness

Flow, the secret to happiness

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."

True happiness comes from becoming deeply absorbed in meaningful activities, not from accumulating wealth or possessions. Studies show that, despite a tripling of personal income since 1956, the percentage of people who describe their lives as "very happy" has not changed. The most vivid moments of fulfillment arise when people lose themselves in creative work, sports, or even day-to-day tasks that fully engage their abilities. This state, called flow, suspends self-consciousness and makes life feel uniquely worthwhile.