READ: What is worth living for?

WATCH: TED Talk by Mihali Csikszentmihalyi.

DISCUSS the following prompt:

• Have you ever experienced a flow state? What were you doing? Describe the experience. Is it something you can reproduce at will or is it seemingly out of your control? What could you do to increase the experience of flow in other parts of your life?

• People who have experienced flow, describe the following feelings:
  1. Completely involved in what we are doing – focused, concentrated.
  2. A sense of ecstasy – of being outside everyday reality.
  3. Great inner clarity – knowing what needs to be done, and how well we are doing.
  4. Knowing that the activity is doable – that our skills are adequate to the task.
  5. A sense of serenity – no worries about oneself, and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego.
  6. Timelessness – thoroughly focused on the present, hours seem to pass by the minute.
  7. Intrinsic motivation – whatever produces flow becomes it own reward.
• If you have not experienced a flow state, why do you think that is? What did you learn from the reading and videos about how to increase your chances of experiencing this? How might you increase your chances of experiencing this in your life?