Podcasts about Csikszentmihalyi

~A follow-up to “Permission to Pause” If you've ever stepped away to “rest” but came back feeling just as drained, this episode is for you. In this powerful follow-up to Permission to Pause, we name and unpack a concept that deeply resonated with listeners: contaminated leisure — the kind of downtime that looks like rest but still carries the weight of responsibility, guilt, and multitasking. And naming it matters. Because once we recognize what's happening, we can begin to reclaim the kind of rest that actually restores. This episode dives deep into:  What contaminated leisure really is  The neuroscience behind why it's so exhausting  Why ambitious women are especially affected  What the research says about emotional labor and the “leisure gap”  How to reclaim rest as a biological, psychological, and cultural necessity If rest has ever felt like another item on your to-do list, tune in.  In This Episode, You'll Learn: The origins of the term contaminated leisure and how it shows up in everyday life Why “just relaxing” often doesn't work — and how pseudo-recovery tricks our brains How true rest activates the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain's key to meaning-making, emotional regulation, and creativity How internalized expectations and the "casualty of competence" leave ambitious women especially vulnerable to burnout Five science-backed strategies to create space for real, uncontaminated rest Manifestatement: Rest doesn't make you less ambitious, it makes your ambition sustainable. #ContaminatedLeisure #RestIsResistance #AmbitiousWomen #PermissionToPause References   Bianchi, S. M., & Mattingly, M. J. (2003). Time, Work, and Family: What Do We Know? Social Forces. Immordino-Yang, M. H. – Research on the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) and emotional processing. Shockley, K. M. – Studies on psychological detachment and pseudo-recovery. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Hochschild, A. (1989). The Second Shift – On invisible labor and emotional management.   For more about Dr. DeSimone and the Advancing Women Podcast https://www.instagram.com/advancingwomenpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/advancingwomenpodcast/ https://advancingwomenpodcast.com/

¿Te has preguntado alguna vez por qué algunos emprendedores parecen disfrutar intensamente de su trabajo mientras otros se sienten constantemente agotados y estresados?¿Qué diferencia a aquellos fundadores que están tan absortos en lo que hacen que el tiempo parece desaparecer de los que luchan constantemente contra las distracciones y el agotamiento?En este episodio analizamos "Flow: La Psicología de la Experiencia Óptima" (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990) de Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, una obra revolucionaria que descifra el estado mental donde alcanzamos nuestro máximo rendimiento y disfrute.Lo que descubrió Csikszentmihalyi después de décadas de investigación es fascinante: las personas experimentan flow cuatro veces más durante el trabajo que durante el tiempo libre. Sin embargo, paradójicamente, siguen prefiriendo el ocio al trabajo. ¿La razón? La mayoría de los trabajos no están diseñados para generar flow de manera consistente.Como emprendedores, tenemos una ventaja única: podemos diseñar deliberadamente nuestro trabajo y el de nuestro equipo para maximizar estas experiencias óptimas.A lo largo del episodio exploramos los 9 elementos universales del flow y cómo aplicarlos en tu día a día empresarial:

¿Te has preguntado alguna vez por qué algunos emprendedores parecen disfrutar intensamente de su trabajo mientras otros se sienten constantemente agotados y estresados?¿Qué diferencia a aquellos fundadores que están tan absortos en lo que hacen que el tiempo parece desaparecer de los que luchan constantemente contra las distracciones y el agotamiento?En este episodio analizamos "Flow: La Psicología de la Experiencia Óptima" (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990) de Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, una obra revolucionaria que descifra el estado mental donde alcanzamos nuestro máximo rendimiento y disfrute.Lo que descubrió Csikszentmihalyi después de décadas de investigación es fascinante: las personas experimentan flow cuatro veces más durante el trabajo que durante el tiempo libre. Sin embargo, paradójicamente, siguen prefiriendo el ocio al trabajo. ¿La razón? La mayoría de los trabajos no están diseñados para generar flow de manera consistente.Como emprendedores, tenemos una ventaja única: podemos diseñar deliberadamente nuestro trabajo y el de nuestro equipo para maximizar estas experiencias óptimas.A lo largo del episodio exploramos los 9 elementos universales del flow y cómo aplicarlos en tu día a día empresarial:

Vous vous sentez parfois morose, passif, ou en manque d'énergie ? Dans cet épisode, on explore comment sortir de cet état et se sentir pleinement vivant, grâce aux apports de la psychologie positive et des sciences sociales. S'appuyant sur des études concrètes, cet épisode vous livre des clés pour comprendre pourquoi on peut se sentir éteint, et surtout, des astuces pratiques pour retrouver de l'enthousiasme !Sources scientifiques pour crédibiliser ton contenu :Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row. Fredrickson, B. L. (2016). The Journal of Positive Psychology – Études sur la gratitude et le bien-être. Nature Neuroscience (2021) – Recherche sur la nouveauté et la dopamine. Psychological Bulletin (2019) – Méta-analyse sur les relations sociales et le bien-être. The Journal of Happiness Studies (2020) – Objectifs intrinsèques et sentiment de vitalité. Social Psychological and Personality Science (2017) – Contagion émotionnelle.

Get the free workbook: www.powerofpeacefulness.comYou've hit the milestones—got the promotion, the degree, the title. But if you're still wondering, “Is this it?”—you're not alone. In this episode of The Power of Peacefulness, we dive deep into how reflection can transform your experience of success, moving you from burnout and striving to flow and fulfillment.Through inspiring stories, practical tools, and evidence-based insights, we explore how intentional reflection helps you realign with your core values, build self-awareness, and define success on your own terms—not anyone else's.Whether you're feeling disconnected in your career, stuck in perfectionism, or simply craving more meaning in your life, this conversation offers a new lens—and a pathway—to redefine what achievement truly looks like for you.What it means to change your vision of success through reflectionWhy self-awareness is the foundation for authentic successThe power of journaling, therapy, and mindfulness in discovering your true pathHow aligning your goals with your values increases fulfillmentUsing flow as a compass for career directionLetting go of perfectionism and redefining achievementThe neuroscience of rest and why you need it for integration and clarityBuilding resilience through narrative reflectionCreating reflective ecosystems—in your life, relationships, and workspaces"Reflection is the tool that helps you draw up your own blueprint for success.""Success isn't a destination—it's a way of being that feels deeply aligned with your inner compass.""When your goals reflect your core values, fulfillment stops being a future outcome—it becomes your lived experience."FREE Workbook: Reclaim Your Inner Peace → www.powerofpeacefulness.comResearch by Csikszentmihalyi, Goleman, Beck, Pennebaker, and more (covered in the full article behind this episode)If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new conversation—and please consider leaving a review! It helps us reach more listeners like you.Know someone who needs to hear this? Send this episode their way.Together, we're creating a more peaceful and purposeful way of living.Take five minutes today to reflect. Just a few quiet moments. Ask yourself: What does success mean to me now?Not what it used to mean, not what others expect—but what truly matters to you today.Until next time—Breathe deeply. Trust your journey. And keep walking your path to peace.

Et si je vous disais que vous pouviez atteindre un étât optimal de vos capacités cerébrales ? Non, ce n'est pas le mythe du 10%. Mais il existe un étât qui vous rend jusqu'à 3 fois plus effiace dans vos tâches, en consommant 3 fois moins d'énergie ! Cet état, c'est le flow !Dans cet épisode, nous explorons comment atteindre cet état où le temps s'arrête, dans lequel nous nous sentons absorbé par la tâche que nous faisons et nous en ressortons avec une sensation magnifique de fierté. Découvrez comment activer cet étât à votre guise afin de vous rendre plus efficace au quotidien !Un épisode puissant à ne pas manquer.Références :- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2013). Flow: The psychology of happiness. Random House.- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1988). The flow experience and its significance for human psychology. Optimal experience: Psychological studies of flow in consciousness, 2, 15-35.- Collins, A. L., Sarkisian, N., & Winner, E. (2009). Flow and happiness in later life: An investigation into the role of daily and weekly flow experiences. Journal of happiness studies, 10, 703-719.- Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2009). Flow theory and research.L'art du mentaliste, un podcast animé par Taha Mansour et Alexis Dieux, musique par Antoine Piolé.Retrouvez Taha Mansour :- Son site : www.tahamansour.com- Instagram / Facebook : @TahaMentalismeRetrouvez Alexis Dieux :- Son site : https://www.alexisdieux.com/- Instagram : @alexisdieuxhypnose

I finally finished Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. First published in 1990, it has now become a classic in the field of positive psychology. You're probably aware of the punchline of the book: flow is the Goldilocks zone between excessive stress and anxiety and boredom. It involves optimal difficulty suited to a skill set. But the book is more than the punchline. It covers flow in all aspects of life and more importantly, how to "flow". Csikszentmihalyi also identifies the perils of not being into the flow and the purpose of flow.I loved this book. I am glad that I finally read it. It should be on everyone's bookshelf. I'll probably read it again. This episode covers just two small vignettes and lessons from the Taoist scholar Chuang Tzu. Get into the flow!!

In this week's episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the First Stage of the Hero's Journey, the Ordinary World. What is it, what are it's characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW PODCAST CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@3PillarsPodcast God bless you all. Jesus is King. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬ I appreciate all the comments, topic suggestions, and shares! Find the "3 Pillars Podcast" on all major platforms. For more information, visit the 3 Pillars Podcast website: https://3pillarspodcast.wordpress.com/ Don't forget to check out the 3 Pillars Podcast on Goodpods and share your thoughts by leaving a rating and review: https://goodpods.app.link/3X02e8nmIub Please Support Veteran's For Child Rescue: https://vets4childrescue.org/ Stay connected with Joe Russiello and the "Sword of the Spirit" Podcast: https://www.swordofthespiritpodcast.com/ Join the conversation: #3pillarspodcast References 1) Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press. 2) The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). 3) Vogler, C. (2007). The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Michael Wiese Productions. 4) Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row. 5) Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books. #podcast #herosjourney

Alex Honnold si sposa alla perfezione con le teorie dello psicologo ungherese Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, classe 1934 ed emigrato negli USA poco più che ventenne. Csikszentmihalyi in un Ted Talk del 2004, espone uno studio pluridecennale. L'obiettivo consiste nel capire quali sono le condizioni che definiscono una vita come un'esistenza felice e appagante. Una domanda esistenziale che Csikszentmihalyi sviscera e motiva introducendo il concetto di “Flow”.Il podcast di Clara Mazzi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UgELWUtAQLUKOvznp2dF8?si=0898831fda6a402aSito: www.storiedimontagna.comContatti: andataeritorno.podcast@gmail.com Newsletter: https://andataeritornopodcast.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andataeritornostoriedimontagna/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andata-e-ritorno-storie-di-montagna/?viewAsMember=trueFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557903953187&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_userThreads: https://www.threads.net/@andataeritornostoriedimontagnaMusic by Epidemic SoundCrediti immagine: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/alex-honnold-jimmy-chin-free-solo-yosemite-el-capitan-explore-through-the-lens

Sì, hai letto bene: c'è una formula per #felicità: 50+40+10. Secondo Martin Seligman e Csikszentmihalyi, padri della Psicologia Positiva, la nostra felicità dipende per il 50% dal funzionamento del nostro cervello, per il 40% dalle storie che ci raccontiamo e solo per il 10% dai fatti concreti.Eppure, quante volte mettiamo la nostra felicità fuori dalla nostra portata, imputandola a circostanze esterne?O ci facciamo carico della felicità altrui, dimenticando che quella è nelle loro mani, non nelle nostre?L'area d'impatto è quello spazio dove le nostre azioni fanno davvero la differenza. La felicità è lì. Se vuoi un suggerimento per iniziare: ascolta l'episodio di questa  settimana. Questo è un primo passo per prenderti la responsabilità sulla tua felicità!Sei pronto?#SelfEmpowerment #empowerment #AreaDImpatto 

This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022 under the title “Industrial Light & Magic is Autistic”“If you're able to find a job where your monotropic state is not just valued but rewarded, you will be an incredibly successful Autistic person.”“Monotropic focus is the outcome of having a hyper-connected Autistic brain. When we love something, we love it to such a degree that we get into this zone. Csikszentmihalyi talked about the state of Flow.”“In order to create something that has never been created, he needed to have people who had skills that have never been used before, who had never been appreciated, who were not limited by this neurotypical view.”“Due to our monotropism we are data seekers. We are not happy unless we are gathering every single scrap of data we can, and learning everything we can about it.”“I think that they speak the same language, that they knew that they were of the same culture and that made them not just form a bond, but the bond that they formed was incredible and has lasted over 50 years.”Have you been a part of an accidentally-Autistic group where you flourished? Tell us about it in the comments! Fan Favorite Game, design #9 (get yours here)Play the game! Fan Favorites Game rulesGeorge Lucas is Autistic (Episode 74)Episode 30: Doctor Who is AutisticEpisode 10: Star Trek is AutisticReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Check us out on InstagramFind us on Apple podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPPMatt's social media: Autistic Connections Facebook GroupLearn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference PressAngela's social media: Twitter and TikTokTACP's Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe

Music:  Ribers No. 8Haidt, Jonathan. The happiness hypothesis: Finding modern truth in ancient wisdom. Basic books, 2006.Keltner, Dacher. Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life. Penguin, 2024.Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Sami Abuhamdeh, and Jeanne Nakamura. "Flow." Flow and the foundations of positive psychology: The collected works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (2014): 227-238. Production: Martin SteinbereithnerRecording: Fritz LoeweMastering: Harry KelevFactchecking: Piroshka KacsaMusic Selection: Jakob Dubi BaerCreative Director: Philip Wolff

In this interview, we learn how Kongzi become the pivotal sage of early Chinese history, and what new discoveries teach us about the Confucian tradition.

Esiste uno stato mentale in grado di farti agire al meglio delle tue capacità, con la sensazione di fare pochissima fatica e da una grande soddisfazione.I ricercatori e ormai praticamente tutti lo chiamano: Flusso o Flow. E' quella sensazione di essere totalmente presi da ciò che stiamo facendo che il senso del tempo svanisce e tutto sembra scorrere spontaneamente.Clicca qui per approfondire (link attivo dalle 5:00 AM del 15/07/24) https://psinel.com/il-vero-modo-di-accedere-al-flow/Sei Psicologa/o? Stiamo creando una squadra di professionisti partecipa al Sondaggio https://newmanspirit.typeform.com/to/cq3TyGC1Mindfitness è il nostro percorso gratuito per sviluppare il legame tra energia mentale e fisica. L'ho fatto insieme ad un grande professinista il dott. Valerio Rosso (medico psichiatra). Iscriviti gratis cliccando quiSe ti piace il podcast adorerai il mio Nuovo libro: “Restare in piedi in mezzo alle Onde - Manuale di gestione delle emozioni”... https://amzn.eu/d/1grjAUS- Vuoi Imparare a Meditare? Scarica Gratis Clarity: https://clarityapp.it/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gennaro_romagnoli/- Test sull'Ansia: https://psinel.com/test-ansia-ig-pd/I NOSTRI PERCORSI:- Dall'Ansia alla Serenità: https://psinel.com/ansia-serenita-sp/- Emotional Freedom: https://psinel.com/emotional-freedom-sp/- Self-Kindness: https://psinel.com/self-kindness-sp/- MMA (Master in Meditazione Avanzata): https://psinel.com/master-meditazione-avanzata-sp/- Scrivi la Tua Storia: https://psinel.com/scrivi-la-tua-storia-sp/- Self-Love: https://psinel.com/self-love-sp/Credits (traccia audio): https://www.bensound.com

Maximizing 'Flow State' The WISDOM podcast  Season 4  Episode 99

La creatività è un aspetto complesso del comportamento umano che coinvolge aspetti innati e acquisiti. Alcuni studi sottolineano che esistono predisposizioni genetiche alla creatività, mentre altri ci ricordano dell'importanza dell'ambiente e della comunicazione. In questo episodio cito gli studi di Csikszentmihalyi (che sicuramente ho pronunciato malissimo, nonostante abbia appena seguito una formazione di 6 ore sui suoi studi, chiedo perdono) - per aver una visione positiva su come l'educazione, le esperienze personali e le opportunità di apprendimento influenzano significativamente la capacità creativa. Per approfondire: - elenacortinovis.com/giocare-con-i-figli-senza-annoiarsi/ - elenacortinovis.com/gioco-destrutturato-cosa-e-come-incentivarlo/ - elenacortinovis.com/bimbo-che-gioca-da-solo/ Sono su Vanity Fair! Leggi qui la mia intervista: vanityfair.it/article/come-organizzare-camera-bambini-giochi

When I published Accountability vs. Responsibility I did not anticipate being drawn back into the discussion of whether committees can be accountable and responsible. Over the last few weeks, I have observed several “product meetings.”  In these meetings, consensus decisions are being made about releases, what they will contain, and a marketing approach. These are committee meetings. Is the committee accountable for their decisions and to whom?  It is not a moot point In mid-2008, I wrote “Responsibility, Got Some?”  As I considered the topic of accountability and responsibility, I re-read the piece and polished it a bit. It speaks to the idea of committees and the diffusion of responsibility. So a little detour on our summer road trip. We also have a visit from Susan Parente.  Susan and I discussed certifications. Does having a bunch make sense or does it reflect mass insanity? The answer is…it depends.  Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I are running two Mastering Work Intake cohorts over the next three months. Learn to solve IT's dirtiest secret — work intake. Stop ignoring it. Start fixing it. (only a few seats left) Want to read the book first? , The Evolutionary Agilist™, described as a  “Fantastic work. Very practical and helps improve workflows."    Purchase a copy of the book from: JRoss Publishing:   Amazon:   Re-read Saturday News We begin the meat of our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's with Chapter 1, Happiness. Csikszentmihalyi highlights that happiness requires an individual perspective stating, “The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” Read and discuss!   Buy a copy and read along -   Week 1: -   Week 2: -   Next SPaMCAST  Next week we will feature our interview with Brad Micklea, Founder & CEO at Jozu on the topic of Machine Language Operations (MLOps) and why agile is integral to getting work done. 

ADHD Coach Katherine Sanders In this inspiring episode of "ADHD: Powerful Possibilities," your host Katherine explores the positive aspects of ADHD, especially in the context of entrepreneurship. From the scenic backdrop of spring in Edinburgh, Katherine explores how understanding and leveraging character strengths can significantly enhance personal and professional life for individuals with ADHD. This episode challenges the negative stereotypes often associated with ADHD and provides listeners with actionable tools and resources to help them identify and harness their unique strengths. Listen in for a deep dive into how these strengths can lead to exceptional entrepreneurial success and a sustainable fulfilling life, whatever the challenges ADHD might pose.

In this week's episode, the first of our 12th season, titled "Finding Flow," I embark on a fascinating journey through the seminal book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This episode isn't just a book review; it's an exploration into the concept of flow—a state where people experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and total involvement with life. As we delve into "Finding Flow," I'll highlight the book's most intriguing approaches, demonstrating how everyone can practice and develop their flow state to enhance their daily lives. We'll explore the practical strategies and psychological insights that Csikszentmihalyi presents, offering you actionable tips on how to integrate these concepts into your own routine. Moreover, this episode goes beyond mere discussion; it serves as a practical guide on how to harness the power of flow. Whether you're looking to boost your creativity, improve your focus, or simply find more joy in your everyday activities, "Finding Flow" provides the roadmap. We will dissect the techniques and mindsets that foster this optimal experience, and I'll share personal anecdotes on how these strategies have transformed my own approach to challenges and tasks. "Finding Flow" is more than just an analysis of a psychological concept; it's a celebration of the potential within each of us to elevate our quality of life. In this episode, I aim to show how understanding and applying the principles of flow can lead to significant personal growth and greater fulfillment. As always, I will be sharing several thought-provoking concepts for you to ponder and apply in real-life scenarios in the upcoming days. For those feeling adventurous, there will also be a challenge awaiting your participation! All the love, all the power, all of the time! If you'd like to support my work, please follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RSXTAGFY2QPSG  Link to the book on Amazon: Finding Flow

In this episode, we delve into the concept of "flow," a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, uncovering the groundbreaking research that began in the 1970s. Csikszentmihalyi's quest to understand optimal performance led him across the globe, gathering insights from a diverse array of individuals, from chess masters to Navajo sheep herders. Discover how flow represents an altered state of consciousness, characterized by complete immersion and heightened performance, and why this state is universally accessible, yet deeply personal. We'll explore the six core characteristics of flow and the implications of Csikszentmihalyi's discoveries for our understanding of well-being and peak performance. Key Takeaways: ✅ Flow is a universal experience described as an altered state of consciousness where actions and decisions flow seamlessly from one to the next. ✅ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi identified six core characteristics of flow, including complete concentration, the merger of action and awareness, and an altered sense of time. ✅ Flow is both a spectrum of experiences and a measurable state, offering insights into our potential for well-being and peak performance. ✅ Advances in neuroscience have deepened our understanding of flow, opening pathways to intentionally cultivate this powerful state.

Szukam i tęsknię do stanu zatracenia się w twórczej czynności. Szukam go w momentach, gdy nic w moim życiu mnie już nie porywa. Nic mnie nie interesuje. Nic się nie dzieje. Nie ma tej iskry, która sprawia, ze po wstaniu rano mowie sobie, ale fajny dzień przede mną. Codziennie po wstaniu zastanawiam się, czy do mnie powróci. Znam go doskonale, bo pomógł mi osiągnąć wolność i robić rzeczy, które mnie pasjonują. Ale nie jest łatwo go wywołać. Szukam tego stanu, kiedy siadam przed pustym ekranem komputera, czuję się jakbym wchodził w inny świat, gdzie czas płynie zupełnie inaczej. Tam reguły codzienności przestają mieć znaczenie, a najważniejsze jest to, co tworzę za pomocą klawiatury.Na początku zawsze było trudno zacząć:O czym mam dziś pisać opowiadanie, artykuł, newsletter lub scenariusz podcastu? Co dzisiaj we mnie siedzi? W jaki sposób ta historia porwie mojego czytelnika lub słuchacza? Czy odnajdą w tym jakieś praktyczne lekcje, które poprawią jakąś dziedzinę życia?I przede wszystkim: Od czego zacząć? Jakie mają brzmieć pierwsze słowa? Odpowiedzi przychodziły, by pojawiał się stan przepływu (ang. FLOW), fenomen opisany przez urodzonego w Rijece węgiersko-amerykańskiego psychologa o trudnym do wymówienia i zapisania nazwisku: Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, który w swoich pracach opisał, w jaki sposób kreatywność i mistrzostwo w danej dziedzinie odnoszą się do rozwoju naszego geniuszu. Csíkszentmihályi wyróżnił szereg cech charakterystycznych, o których istnieniu zapewniali uczestnicy jego badania pogrążeni w angażującym ich działaniu. Opisuję je w tym odcinku.Poznasz też jak wygląda proces twórczy prowadzacy do takiego stanu i kluczowe etapy w kształtowaniu arcydzieła.Dowiesz się, jak wprowadzić się w stan FLOW.Podzielę się z Tobą listem mojego klienta, który opisał jak wygląda jego życie po zakończonym procesie coachingowym, przez który go przeprowadziłem w ramach STOICKIEJ METAMORFOZYDowiesz się, jak możesz odebrać swoją DARMOWĄ sesję coachingową.Nagrałem też 310 odcinek PREMIUM, w którym opisuję 11 pasji, dzięki którym osiągniesz Stan FLOW. Znajdziesz go w aplikacji PATRONITE AUDIO.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (sprich „Tschick Sent Mihaji“) entwickelte das Konzept von Flow Mitte der 70er Jahre und leistet mit weiteren Untersuchungen auf diesem Gebiet Pionierarbeit. Csikszentmihalyi […] Der Beitrag Wie komme ich für einen Auftritt in den Flow erschien zuerst auf Heimsoeth Academy.

What is flow? It is the state of being where we are perfectly aligned with our purpose. Behavioral Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says that flow is the balance of when our challenges and capacities are conjoined to connect with our ecstatic state of being. Csikszentmihalyi says that the best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits voluntarily to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. On a spiritual level we align with G-d's will and our "I" becomes G-d's "I." The sign of the month is the bucket - דלי. The bucket receives with the purpose of giving. Moshe and Jacob meet their soul mates by the well while using the bucket to reicieve the water (flow) and ditribute it...How do we become more like the bucket and flow like water? Join us in this Inner Vibe class

In de laatste aflevering van dit 1e seizoen van Normale Mensen Bestaan Niet gaan Thijs en Lennard in op wat het is om gelukkig te zijn. Kun je wel de hele tijd gelukkig zijn of niet? Waar word je nou écht gelukkig van? En wat zegt de langstlopende studie ter wereld naar gelukkig en gezond leven van Harvard ons hierover? Adverteren in de podcast? Podcasts@astrolads.com Bronnen en ander lees- en luister- en kijkvoer: - Het boek The Second Mountain van David Brooks is een aanrader: https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/f/the-second-mountain/9200000095353169/ - Natuurlijk ook Flourish van Martin Seligman: https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/flourish/1001004011746039/ - Boek van Viktor Frankl is een klassieker over gelukkig worden - Man's search for meaning - Laurie Santos - Science of Wellbeing cursus (gratis en goed): https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being - Met vreemden praten maakt je gelukkiger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAAw3NpV4s - Liz Dunn onderzoek iets voor een ander doen: https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_dunn_helping_others_makes_us_happier_but_it_matters_how_we_do_it?language=nl - Ted talk over langste studie: https://ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness Nerd-literatuur: - Seligman, M. E. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster. - Van Zyl, L. E. (2013). Seligman's flourishing: An appraisal of what lies beyond happiness Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being, Martin EP Seligman: book review. SA journal of industrial psychology, 39(2), 1-3. - Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction (Vol. 55, No. 1, p. 5). American Psychological Association. - Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success?. Psychological bulletin, 131(6), 803. - Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. The journal of positive psychology, 1(2), 73-82. - Layous, K. T. I. N., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). The how, why, what, when, and who of happiness. Positive emotion: Integrating the light sides and dark sides, 473-495. - Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success?. Psychological bulletin, 131(6), 803. - Vaillant, G. E. (2008). Aging well: Surprising guideposts to a happier life from the landmark study of adult development. Hachette UK. - Fuchsman, K. (2023). Harvard Grant Study of Adult Development: 1938–2022. Journal of Psychohistory, 51(1). - Atherton, O. E., Graham, E. K., Dorame, A. N., Horgan, D., Luo, J., Nevarez, M. D., ... & Lee, L. O. (2023). Is there intergenerational continuity in early life experiences? Findings from the Harvard Study of Adult Development. Journal of Family Psychology. - Hart, J. (2023). Harvard Study of Adult Development: Human Connection is Key to Health and Well-Being. Integrative and Complementary Therapies, 29(3), 122-124. - Atir, S., Wald, K. A., & Epley, N. (2022). Talking with strangers is surprisingly informative. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(34), e2206992119. - Schroeder, J., Lyons, D., & Epley, N. (2022). Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 151(5), 1141. - Epley, N., & Schroeder, J. (2014). Mistakenly seeking solitude. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(5), 1980.

In the first episode of Season 1, co-hosts Annie Liontas and Lito Velázquez speak with LitFriends Angela Flournoy & Justin Torres about their enduring friendship, writing in a precarious world, and chosen family. Links https://sites.libsyn.com/494238 www.annieliontas.com www.litovelazquez.com https://linktr.ee/litfriendspodcast https://www.instagram.com/litfriendspodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553436475678 https://justin-torres.com/ https://www.angelaflournoy.com/ https://www.asalisolomon.com/ Transcript Annie & Lito (00:01) Welcome to LitFriends! Hey LitFriends! Annie: Welcome to the show. Lito: Today we're speaking with the great writers and LitFriends, Justin Torres and Angela Flournoy. Annie: About chosen family, the dreaded second novel, and failure and success. Lito: So grab your bestie and— 
 Both: Get ready to get lit! Lito: That's so cute. Annie: It's cute. It's cute. We're cute! Lito: Cute, cute… So you had a question? Annie (00:29) I do. I have a question for you, Lito. Are you a cat or an ox? Lito: I mean, I would hope that the answer is so obvious that it almost bears not asking the question. I'm a cat. Annie: Okay, so Asali Solomon at The Claw asked us all, are you an ox or a cat? Lito: That's a great question. Annie: And as a writer... You know, the oxen are the people who work every day in the field, clock in, clock out, pay themselves a quarter an hour. I'm literally talking about me. The cats are people who are playful, exploratory, when the mood strikes them… Lito: Why are you looking at me when you say that? Annie Lito (01:26) So are you an ox or a cat? Lito: I'm a cat. I think anyone who's ever met me would say I'm a cat. Annie: How does that show up in your writing? Lito: Well, I mean, play is so important to me—she'll be on the  podcast in a couple of episodes, but when I first...was studying with Lucy, that was one of the first things that she spoke about in our class, and it kind of blew up my whole world. I had been writing for a long time already, but I hadn't thought of it as play, or there was some permission I needed or something. So the idea of play is really central to what I do and love. You wouldn't necessarily know that from the novel that I'm writing, which is sort of a dark book. Um, but it did start out with a lot of play and, I'm also, as you could probably just hear, my cat is coming into the room. Annie: Your cat is like, yes, Lito is us. RiffRaff is like, "Lito is cat." Lito: My cat Riff Raff, yes. Smarty pants. Um, he needed to join in on this conversation. Anyways, I'm a cat. I, I'm fickle when it comes to my work. Um. I don't want to work on my novel all the time, which is great because life has found so many ways to prevent it from happening. So in the new year, in 2024, it will be 7 years since I've started writing this book, and it's still, it's going to take a few more months at least. And what about you? Annie:  (03:09) I'm four oxen pulling a cart carrying all of my ancestors. I am very much the immigrant who says, get up, go do the work, come back, go do the work. And believe it or not, for me, there is a lot of joy in that. It's a... It allows, you know, it's Csikszentmihalyi's Flow, actually. So it doesn't feel like drudgery, usually. It does feel like joy. And I'm actually curious for all you LitFriends out there, if you're an ox or a cat. Lito: Yes, that's such a great idea. Please email us at litfriendspodcast@gmail.com, and tell us if you're a cat or an oxen or share on all your socials. Annie: Yeah, maybe we should poll them. That would be fun. Lito: That's a good idea. #LitFriendsPodcast. Annie: The reason I'm asking is because, of course, both Justin and Angela, who we speak with today in this episode, talk about what it's like to go for 10 years between books. "A banger a decade," is what Angela says. Lito: It's so funny. Annie: And you, you know, part of that, they have this very rich conversation about how, when you put everything into the first book, it takes a lot to get to the second book. But I think also there's a lot of play, right? And there's a lot of understanding that writing appears in different forms. And it might be the second novel, but it might be something else. Lito: For sure. I really like how they talk about— that the practice of writing is actually a practice of reading. And I think that any serious writer spends most of their time reading. And not just reading books, but texts of all kinds, in the world, at museums, as Justin points out, art, television, even the trashiest TV show has so much to offer. Annie: (05:12) And there's such a generosity to the way they think of themselves as artists, and also generosity in how they show up for one another as friends, and acknowledging when they fail one another as we as we see in this episode. And I remember my introduction to Justin when I was a grad student at Syracuse. I read We the Animals and fell in love with it, asked him to come do a reading at Syracuse, which was wonderful. And my wife who, at that time was my Bey-ancé, she was turning 30. We had no money. I couldn't buy her anything. Not in grad school. So I asked Justin if he would autograph his story, "Reverting to a Wild State," which is about a breakup in reverse, for Sara. Lito: Oh, I love that story. Annie: And he did, and he thought it was so beautiful, and I was like, "let me send it to you." He's like, "no, I've got it." He just shipped it to me. He didn't know me. We didn't know each other. Lito: He knew you because of books. He knew you because he loved literature. Annie: Yeah. And I remember that in it. I held on to it at a time when that act really mattered. Lito: One of the things I love about our interview with Justin and Angela is how much all of us talk about generosity, and how Justin and Angela display it in their conversation with each other and with us. And I'm just curious, how do you see that coming through also in Angela's work? Annie: (07:00) You know, I remember her talking about how the idea for the book began with this image of people moving around a house at night. This is The Turner House. And she says this image opens up a lot of questions. And one of the things that really stays with me about that book is how masterful she is at shifting perspective, particularly between siblings, which I find to be such a challenge for writers, right? Like your siblings are the people who are closest to you and sometimes also the farthest away. And she gets that so intimately on the page. And of course, in our conversation with Angela and Justin, one of the things they talk about is being family, essentially being siblings. And that's one of the most powerful echoes of the conversation. They talk about being a chosen family and having to choose again and again and again. And that spirit of consciousness and connection, I feel that very much in Angela's work, and of course in Justin's too. Lito: Oh Annie, I choose you again and again, I choose you. Annie: Oh, I choo-choo-choose you! Lito: So stupid. Annie: (08:05) After the break, we'll be back with Justin and Angela. Annie: (08:24) And we're back. Lito: I just wanted to mention, too, that we spoke with Angela and Justin in October during the writer's strike in Hollywood, and just before Justin's new book, Blackouts, was released. And just last week, as you're hearing this podcast. Annie: Just last week. Lito: Just last week! He won the National Book Award for a book that took him 10 years to write. Annie: Absolutely. Annie: Justin Torres is the author of Blackouts, a novel about queer histories that are hidden, erased and re-imagined. Blackouts won the 2023 National Book Award for fiction. His debut novel, We the Animals, has been translated into 15 languages and was adapted into a feature film. He was named National Book Foundation's Five Under 35. His work appears in the New Yorker, Harper's, Granta, Tin House, Best American Essays, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles and teaches at UCLA. Lito: Angela Flournoy is the author of The Turner House, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, won the VCU-Cabel First Novel Prize, and was also a finalist for both the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and an NAACP Image Award. Angela is a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine, and her nonfiction has appeared in The Nation, the Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, and elsewhere. Angela is a faculty member in the low residency MFA program at Warren Wilson College. Lito: (10:36) I'm so grateful that you guys found time to meet with us today, and I've thought about you two as friends since I think this is like the first time you've done something like what you did in 2017, the "Proper Missive"—do you remember that—you published in Spook? And it stuck with me. I was like a big, nerding out, and I bought it and I have it still. And I thought about that. And Justin, you know that you're very personal— there's a personal connection with me because I found your book on my way to my first master's program. No one had said anything about it to me where I was coming from, and it was really great. And Angela, I first found your book. I was so amazed and moved by the talk you don't remember at Syracuse. Angela: I don't remember the lunch. I remember being at Syracuse, and there being a talk, yes. Lito: You inscribed your book, "Here's to Language," which I think is hilarious and also really sweet. And I think we must have said something about language at some point. But anyways, thank you so much both for being here. Justin: Thank you for having us. Angela: Very happy to be here. Lito: So let's start. Why don't you tell us about your friend in a few sentences? So Angela, you can go first. Tell us about Justin. Angela: (11:23) Justin is the first person that I met in Iowa City when I was visiting and deciding if I was going to go there, but was I really deciding no? I'll let you go there. But that I could like, deciding whether I would be miserable while I was there. And so Justin was the first person I met. And feel like Justin is five years older than me. It has to be said.  Justin: Does it? Angela: When I think about people, and I think about like mentors, I have other like amazing mentors, but like, I think that there's really something special about somebody who some people might think is your peer, but like, in a lot of ways you've been like looking up to them and, um, that has been me with Justin. I think of him as like a person who is not only, he's a Capricorn, and he has big Capricorn energy. I am an Aquarius. I do not want to be perceived— Justin: I don't agree with any of this. But I don't know. I don't follow any of this. Angela: But Justin is in the business of perceiving me and also gathering me up and helping me do better. My life is just always getting better because of it. I'm grateful for it. Annie: That is beautiful, all of that is beautiful. Justin, tell us about Angela. Justin: I can't follow that, that is so...  Angela: Acurate! Justin: You're so prepared! You're so sweet! I'm so touched! Angela: Only a Capricorn would be touched by somebody saying that you perceive them and gather them up and make them feel better. Ha ha ha! Justin: I like that, I do like that. Let's see, yeah. I mean, I think that when we met, I had already been in Iowa for a year, and within two seconds, I was like, oh, we're gonna be friends, and you don't know it yet. But I knew it intensely. And yeah, I think that one of the, I agree that I think we keep each other honest, I think. I think that one of the things that I just so appreciate about Angela is that, you know, yeah, you see my bullshit. You put up with it for like a certain amount of time, and then you're like, all right, we need to talk about the bullshit that you're pulling right now. And I love it, I love it, love it, love it, because I don't know, I think you really keep me grounded. I think that, yeah, it's been really (14:09) wonderful to have you in my life. And like, our lives really, really kind of pivoted towards one another. You know, like we've, it was not just like, oh, we were in grad school and then, you know, whatever, we have similar career paths, so we stayed friends or whatever. It's like, we became family. And, you know, every, every kind of major event in either of our lives is a major event, a shared major event, right? And that's like, yeah, I don't know. I can't imagine my life without you. I honestly can't. Angela: Likewise. I gave birth in Justin's home. Annie: Oh! Sweet! Justin: In my bathroom, over there. Right over there. Lito: Whoa, congratulations, and also scary(?)! Angela: It's in a book I'm writing, so I won't say so much about it, but it was a COVID home birth success story. And yeah, like family. Lito: Was that the plan or did that just happen? Angela: Well, It wasn't the plan and then it was the plan. Justin: Yeah, exactly. COVID wasn't the plan. Angela: No. Justin: The plan was Angela was gonna sublet my place with her husband and she was pregnant. And then, COVID happened Angela: There were a lot of pivots. But we did, it was like enough of a plan where we got his blessing to give birth in his home. Justin: It wasn't a surprise. Angela: It was a surprise that it was in the bathroom, but that's a different story. Annie: You blessed that bathroom is all I can say. Angela: Yeah. Lito: We'll be right back. Back to the show. Annie: (16:22) Well, I want to come back to what Lido was saying about proper missives. I love the intimacy. I mean, I know you weren't writing those to one another for kind of public consumption, but the intimacy and the connection, it's so moving. And I was thinking about, you know, Justin, you, you talk about Angela as kind of pointing the way to beauty and helping you see the world anew or differently. And Angela, you talked about how Justin encourages you to take up space as a political act. I'm just wondering what else you all have taught one another. What has your LitFriend taught you? Justin: Yeah, I mean, we did write that for public consumption. Angela: Yes, it was the editor-in-chief of Spook, Jason Parham. Spook is relaunching soon, so look out for it. He just told me that, like, the other day. And he's moving to L.A. So many things are happening. But he reached out to us and was really interested in—he's a big archives guy and like how—he thought it was valuable the way that writers of past generations, they have these documents of their letters to each other, to their editors, to their friends, to their enemies, and how this generation, because we're just texting through it, we don't really have that. And so that was really just the extent of the assignment, was to write letters to each other, which, of course, we still ended up using email to do. But we really tried to keep it in the spirit of a letter and not just something you kind of dash off. Justin: And we were not living in the same place at that time. Angela: No. Justin: So it was, it did feel kind of— Angela: I was in Provincetown, I think. Justin: Yeah, I remember I was on a train when I was, when I was doing— I can't remember where I was going or, but I remember a lot of it was— or a few of those correspondences— because it went over days, weeks. Lito: Yeah, you were going to Paris. Angela: Oh. Glamorous train. You were on the Eurostar. Justin: Wow. Annie: You basically said the same thing then, Angela. Call him out. Justin: (18:32) Yeah, and I think that what I was saying was that one of the things I loved about that was it really forced us to dive deeper, right? To kind of— Sometimes we can stay very much on the surface because we talk every day. And so it was really nice to see, not just what was kind of on your mind in the background, but also how you were processing it, how you kind of made language and meaning out of it. I was just like... I don't know, it's like, I know you're so deep, but then we also love to be shallow. And so it's so nice to be like, to connect from that deep place. Annie: One of the things that I'm so drawn to about both of your work is how you write about family, the way it shapes us, the way it wounds us, what it means to watch family members suffer. You talk about it as the question of the donut hole in "Proper Missive. Angela, I remember you were writing about your father. When you were writing about him, you talk about, "the assumption that a flawed person should be subject to anyone's definition." And Justin, I'm thinking quite broadly in terms of, you know, chosen or logical family. One of my favorite pieces that I teach in my creative non-fiction class is "Leashed," and you write there, "my friends, those tough women and queers were all too sharp and creative for their jobs. If I'm nostalgic, it's not because I was happy in those precarious years, but because I was deeply moved by our resourcefulness." I'm just wondering how you think about, you know, (20:09) family, logical family, and how your lit friendship fits into this? Justin: Who's going first? Angela: You. Justin: Let's see, I think that it's such a great question. I actually like, I use that little short kind of tiny little piece that you referenced. I use that in my book, in Blackouts, that's coming out. I think that, which is a book about chosen family as well, and lineages, and what do you do when you feel there's some kind of disruption, right? That like if you're estranged from your biological family or you know or you just need these connections, these kind of queer connections to and other ways of thinking about family that are not related to (21:06) bloodlines. Like we said earlier, we are family, and we've known that for quite a while. It was something that, I don't know. You know, it's like something that I don't think you ever really need to say. It's just you know who your people are. And I think that, and I think that it's a choice that you make and remake again and again and again. And that is something that is, I don't know, it's so exceptional, right? Compared to bloodlines and biological family, which can be hugely important and bring a lot of meaning to people. But that you're choosing this again and again. Like almost like the kind of past tense chosen family is like, it's like a little bit inaccurate, right? It's like the family you choose, and keep choosing, and you're choosing right now, you know? So I love that. Yeah. Angela: Just that the continuity of it, not in the sense that it's always going to be there, but that like you are, you're like an active, uh, engager like in it. In it, I just think about, I think about that, like, uh, at this point we know each other for 14 years. And the way that there's just necessarily we're not the same people but you have to keep, and you have to keep engaging, and you have to keep figuring out how to navigate different things and I think particularly as like LitFriends there's the huge thing you have to navigate which is especially if you're friends before that you're just like some kids who got into this program that people think are fancy, but you're just like, anything can happen, right? From there to being the capital— going from just like lowercase w, "writer," to capital A, "Author." And like what that, I mean, I've seen many a friendship where that is the rupture. And so particularly figuring out, like, how are you going to navigate that, and how are you going to still be in each other's lives. (23:16.33) Um, one thing I think about, as a person who thinks about family a lot is, with your family, sometimes you can like harm one another, and you'll just take some time off, or you'll just be like, that's how they are. But with the family that you continue to choose, you have to, ideally, you gotta do something about it. You have to actually have the engagement, and you have to figure out how to come out on the other side of it. And that is something that is harder and really in so many ways, all the more precious because of it. And it requires a kind of resilience and also just like a trust. And again, because Justin, you know, likes to gather me up, there's been a few times when I was like, "Oh, no, like, we've got beef, what's gonna happen?" And Justin is like, "we're family, what's gonna happen is we're gonna have to talk about this beef, and then move on." Justin: Yeah. And I think that I think that also you have, you're really good at reminding me to be responsible, right? That just because I've made this commitment, in my mind, right, Like we're committed forever. Like we're family. Like we can't, we can't break up, right? Like it's just like, that's just the way it is. It doesn't get me off the hook of showing up in other ways and being responsible and like, you know, that I can be quite flaky. Angela: I mean, that's just, you've been in L.A. long enough. It's just, you're just becoming native. Justin:  I think I always don't, I don't wanna disappoint you. I don't want you ever to feel like you were looking around for support, and I wasn't there. Angela: Do people cry on this podcast? Annie: We time it. Right at the half hour. Justin: There's been a few moments when I feel it, when I've felt (25:21) maybe that wasn't there enough, you know? And, you know, and if, you know, and like, I don't know, that's when you know it's the real stuff because it like keeps me up at night. You know, I'm just like, wow, you know, what does she need? What can I give? How can I be there? And yeah. Angela: Wow.  There you are. Justin: Here we are. Annie: Lito and I are also family, and it sort of feels never too late. But what you're saying about kind of the like renewing your vows, renewing your commitment over and over, it feels very, very true. Lito: Very true. Yeah yeah yeah. Annie: And life-saving, you know, like life affirming. Lito: It feels real. Justin: Yeah. Look at us. I'm proud of us. I'm proud of you guys too. Lito: It's a love fest over here. Angela: Thanks for having it. Annie: We'll be right back. Annie: (26:26) Welcome back. Angela: Also, particularly again, thinking about a lot of the friends that you have, they're not necessarily also sometimes colleagues. And I think that one thing that Justin really modeled, because I didn't have anything to be transparent about, was just transparency about things. Not just how much he's getting paid for things, but just like what was worth it, what's not worth it, like what is just the way something is and you can like take it or leave it. And I think that in the beginning it was more of me kind of taking that information because I didn't have anybody offering me anything. But now I feel like it's really an exchange of information. And I think that there are people who I love, like, in this industry, if you will, who that's just not our relationship. That doesn't mean we don't have great friendships, but like that is something that like if I'm broke, he knows I'm broke. I never feel the need to pretend and hide or like, you know, and likewise, like if he don't got it, I know he don't got it. It's not, it's just, it just, and I feel like that is something also that is a, it's, um, I think it's important. Especially because you write a book, you know, it does well. And then there are some years in between before you write another. Some of us in this room, maybe take a decade. All of us in this room, maybe take a decade. But yeah, so just really being able to be, to feel like you can still show up at any point in whatever you're doing creatively. Justin: (28:16) Because this is about literary friendships, I think that it's, yeah, there's those two sides, right? There's the business side, which can cause a lot of friction, especially if, you know, things go differently for different books and people have different trajectories. I mean, you're like, you know:  you've surpassed.  Angela: I don't know if that's true.  Justin: But there's that like business side of it. And then there's the literary side as well. And I think that sometimes if it just slides too much into talking about—it's like we could both be selling sprockets, right? There's so much minutiae. It's like we could talk about contracts and whatever and like gigs and da-da-da ad nauseam. And we have to remember to talk about literary side, the literature, the work, the sentences, what we're reading in order to kind of sustain the literary quality of a literary friendship, right?  Angela: One thing I remember you told me, I don't know, ages ago that I thought at the time like oh he's gassing me he's practicing things that he says his students tell me—but now I realize that it is also one of the reasons why our friendship has sustained is you were like ,you know, we can talk about whether a book is successful in 800 ways, but we have to try to remember to just be fans, to be fans of books, of literature, of people writing. And I think that is something that I not only try to practice, but that's something that I think is really foundational to relationship. Everyone can be a hater, and it can be fun sometimes, but like… (30:08) We really do like want to put each other on to the books that we're like excited about. Like I remember when you read or reread Seasons of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih, and I hadn't read it before.  I mean, it's like a, it's a seminal or really a really famous African text, but I had never read it. Or like Maryse Condé, like I hadn't read it as like a real adult and being able to just like talk about that and know that there's a person who's, you know, you could be in polite conversation with somebody who you think is really smart and then you're like you know what I decided I wanted to reread—I don't know—something a person might wanna reread and they're like, Oh, what are you gonna do next? You gonna read a Moby Dick? And you're like, Oh damn, they just shamed me. You know, they just shamed me for being a nerd. But that's not gonna happen here. Yeah, beautiful. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.  Annie: I do wanna go back to something you were alluding to. Angela, you were talking quite openly about it, too, which is shifting from writer to capital A author and the pressure that comes with that.  For the two of you, you had incredible well-deserved success early in your career, but I imagine that doesn't come without a lot of sleepless nights, right? I'm thinking about an interview I heard with Ta-Nehisi Coates where he talks about his friends not reaching out thinking, like, He's good, like, You blew up, you're good. And talking about actually what a lonely position that can be. I'm just wondering, you know, how you've both managed to take care of one another through those highs and lows, or being on that track alongside one another.  And even, you know, competition between lit friends. Justin: (32:13) Yeah, I mean, I think that we're just kind of, like our dispositions: we're very lucky in that I think we, before we met, it wasn't something that we like decided on. It was just before we met, I think we're just boosters, right. We're like, The people we love, their success is our success, right? And I think that's one of the reasons to where we are such good friends, it's because we share that, right? So that I think makes it slightly easier as far as like the competition side of things goes. I think that if it really does feel like you're a family and you're community and like you understand that this is a kind of shared win. I don't know, it's hard to talk about though because we both got really lucky.  Angela: Yeah.  Justin: You know, I mean, who wants to hear from people who got really lucky with their first books talking about how hard it is? You know what I mean?  We just, we didn't have, we didn't have any kind of that disparity between— Angela: Yeah, I'm sure, but—I would say even so—if we had different dispositions, we might be trying to split hairs about who got what. But I think for me—and Justin and I grew up very differently in some ways, but I think we grew up from a class background similarly, and we're both like, We're not supposed to be here, like, what can we get? Like, what can we get? And like, who has the information to help us get it? And so I've never been like, why is he in that room when I'm not in that room? I'm like, give me the intel about the room. That might be the closest I ever get to being in there, but I need to know like what's going on in there. And that has, I think, been the way that I just view any success of anybody that I know. that I feel like I can ask those questions to is like, not necessarily like, oh, can you put me on? Like now that you have something, can I have some of it? But just like, just information, just like, what's it like? And that to me is really useful. But also I think that one thing, when you have people, not just Justin, but like other friends and mentors of mine, when you have people who are honest and upfront about whatever kind of success they've had, you… you just realize that there's a lot of different ways to feel successful, right? Because I have friends who, to me, I'm like, they made it, but they're not convinced they have. And I have other friends that, like, to the outside world, they'd be like, wow, they have a little book, nobody cares. But they feel like they did it, you know? And so I realized it's so much about disposition also. Lito:   Do you feel that a lot about being each other's boosters? I mean, obviously it's about your personalities and who you are as people. I'm also curious how much of that, like Angela, you said you were a gatecrasher. You feel like a gatecrasher a lot. I don't know. What are your thoughts on intersectionality? How does it inform your work and your friendship? How does it affect how you boost each other? I'm also curious if there's something particular about lit friendships that intersect with intersectionality and those categories, especially for people who form intimate relationships with men.  Justin:   Wait, say more.  Like how do blowjobs come in?   Angela:  (36:01.171). I was like one thing we have in common is— Lito: More like, less blow jobs, more like having to deal with men and the various ways they, you know, respond to patriarchy.  Justin: Yeah, I think you kind of said it, right? I think that there's something about hustling and figuring out, like, how am I gonna find some stability in this world.  And I mean we have nominated each other for every single thing that there is. If either one of us gets a chance.  Angela: Till the end of time.  Justin:   Till the end of time, right? And it's just, and I think that, and we've shared all information about everything. There's no, and I think that that's kind of like that quote that you read before, right, about this nostalgia and feeling nostalgic, not for the precarity, but for the way that it bonds people, right? The way that the precarity, like you pull, you share resources, you pull resources, you come together and you talk shit and you don't let people get too down in the dumps and depressed. And you're like, no, we're going to do this. We're going to get ourselves out of this hole and we're going to pull each other up. And, and that I think is like, that's, that's the secret, I think.  Angela: Are you answering the question about men?  Justin:   Oh, men!  Angela: And dealing with men.  Justin: I love that I was just like, oh, you're talking about blow jobs. But no, you were talking about patriarchy.  Lito: Same thing, really.  Annie: In the room I'm in, we do not think there's a difference.  Justin: It's fascinating, right? Because when we were at Iowa together, I remember some of the critiques I got from some of the men, some of the straight men, some of the white straight men, was about a kind of provincialism to my writing, right? That what I was writing about was small and minor and just about particularities of identity and that it wasn't broad and expansive and it wasn't universal. That was expected. That was the kind of critique that was expected. The world has changed so much and so quickly in the last 15 years. It's hard for me to kind of wrap my mind around because that kind of thing, I wasn't, I didn't feel indignant. Maybe I felt a little.  Angela: Yeah, you just, but you just like knew you were going to ignore them. Like, you know, like, but no, but you didn't feel like you were going to, like it was worth, except there were some instances we're not going to get into details, but like, it didn't feel like it was worth spending, like unpacking it or trying to call them out. You just were like, Oh, boop, you're over here. Like, you're not.  Justin: Yeah, yeah. Like, I've been hearing this shit my whole life. Like, it wasn't like, there's no space for this kind of thing in the workshop. I was like, this is the world. This is unexpected. But now I don't think that would fly, right?  Angela:   No. I think maybe in like 70% of workshop spaces that I have been in. Well, I guess I've been running them. But like, I just don't, but like also just the disposition of the students is that they assume that somebody is going to like say something or push back on that. But also I guess maybe more broadly the idea of when you say intersectionality, what do you mean exactly? Lito: I think I wanted to keep it open on purpose. But I think I mean the ways that all of these different identities that we take up and that are imposed upon us, how they intersect with one another, race, class, et cetera. Yeah. Angela: I think one of the reasons why Justin and I gravitated toward each other probably in the beginning and why we ended up in Spook is because I think that—which maybe is also not happening 15 years from then—there is a way that back then, there was a way that even your identity could be flattened, right? Like you're Puerto Rican, which means that you are like a lot of things, right? One of those things like, one of it's like we're both diasporic people, right? But that's one of the things that I think a lot of people would not necessarily think is like a kinship between us, but like I've seen pictures of Justin's cousins. I know I'm giving Primo over here. Like I know what I'm doing. And like that's one way that I think that our relationship feels like, like we just felt like kin when we first met because of that. I think that there's just a lot of ways that in a lot of spaces in this country, you're just not allowed to like have all of those parts of you in the room because people just don't understand it or they do, but they just don't want you to be that also.  Justin: It's not convenient.  Angela: Right. Which is why I was like, of course, Jason would ask you and I to be in Spook, which is a magazine that's a black literary magazine. Cause Jason gets it. Shout out to Jason again.  Justin: I can't believe he's moving to L.A., that's so exciting.  Angela: Supposedly like any day now, he's just gonna arrive. There's just ways that when you find your people, you don't have to always separate these parts of you and you don't always have to keep reminding them also, they sort of understand. But also parts of you change obviously and the way that you feel about your identity changes and your people will embrace that and keep, you know, keep making space for that too. Justin: Making space.  Annie: We'll be back in a moment with Angela and Justin. Lito: (42:22) Hey Lit Fam, we hope you're enjoying our conversation with Justin and Angela. We are quite awed by their thoughtful discussion and moved by their deep love for each other and their art. If you love what we're doing, please take a moment now to follow, subscribe, rate, and review the LitFriends Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Just a few moments of your time will help us so much to continue bringing you great conversations like this week, after week. Thank you for listening. Annie: (42:59.178) Back to our interview with Justin Torres and Angela Flournoy.  Lito: Justin, you have your sophomore book. How do you feel about it? Are you going to write a sequel for We the Animals like you talked about at one point? Angela, same question. Are there sequels coming forth for you, Angela, to Turner House, or are you moving on to something else? Or you sort of briefly mentioned another book about, uh, I remember you mentioning at some point a book about friends, four female friends, if I remember correctly. Anyways, what's coming next?  Annie: Yeah, and I wanna know about the dreaded second novel because I feel like that's where I'm at. I feel like that's where a lot of writers get stuck. Jutin: Second novel's awful. I mean, you think the first one's bad. You think it takes everything that you have inside of you and then you're like, oh, I've gotta do it again. And yeah, I don't know. I really had a very hard time with it. And I mean, nobody knows better than Angela. I really, really didn't feel like I was up to the task. I knew that I wanted to do something different. I knew I wanted to kind of change the way I write and be a different kind of writer, but I just felt like I was falling on my face.  Even after it was done and out until like last week, I was just, I just felt anxiety about it, and I felt really neurotic and I was being really neurotic. And I remember the other night we were hanging out and drinking and maybe there was some mushroom chocolate involved. I was just, like I was just on my bullshit and Angela was just like stopped and she was just like, What is it gonna take to make you happy? Like what is it gonna take? Like look around. And it was like, it was a really good intervention. But then it also led to this conversation about happiness, right? And about like whether that is the goal, right? Like feeling kind of tortured and, and feeling like this gap between what you want for your book and your own capabilities. And that never goes away. You just live in this, in this torturous phase. And like, maybe it's about just coming to acceptance with that, rather than striving for happiness. I don't know. But it's still ringing in my ear. What is it gonna take?  Lito: It's a great question.  Angela:   Maybe some projection, I don't know, on my part.  I am still working on that novel. It's due at the end or at the beginning of next year. It's gonna come out in 2025. You know, God willing. And... similarly the second novel, I think it depends on your disposition, but I think both of us are very interested in and task ourselves with having real skin in the game with what we right. That means sometimes you got to figure out where you get that skin from.  Lito: There's only so much.  Angela: Like, if you played yourself for the first book, then it's gonna take a while. And when I think about, like, when I try to count for the years, I don't know I could have done it any quicker. Like, I just don't know. And I don't think that's gonna be the case for every book, but I do think between that first and that second, especially, were you 30? Where were you? I was 30, yeah. And then I was 30, too. I was 30 also when my book came out. You're just a baby.  You're just a baby.  Lito: Do you fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other people? Well, they wrote a book in two years and I— Justin:  (47:07) Yeah, sure. I mean, I also like compare myself to people who took longer like that feels good. That feels good.  Angela: Listen, I'm like Deborah Eisenberg. Just a banger every decade. That's it. That's all I owe the world. A banger a decade. Lito: A banger a decade. I like that. I like comparing myself to Amy Clampitt, who wrote her first collection of poetry, like in her 70s or something and had some success.  Justin: I generally wish people would slow down. I mean, I get that sometimes there's just like an economic imperative, right? But if you're lucky enough that, I don't know, you get a teaching job and you can slow down, why not slow down, right? Like, I don't know, sometimes I feel like there are a lot of books in this world. And the books that somebody spent a lot of time over, whether or not they are my tastes—I'm just so appreciative of the thoughtfulness that went in.  You can feel it, right? That somebody was really considering what they're building versus dashing it off. They should slow down, if they can.  Angela: But I also feel like we need both kinds. There are people who I appreciate their books, their kind of time capsules of just like, this is the two years, this is where I was. I think of Yiyun. We need an Yiyun Li and we need an Edward P. Jones. Edward P. Jones, you're gonna get those books when you get the books. And Yiyun Li, every couple years, you're gonna get something that, to me, I still, they still feel like really good books, but they're also just like, this is where she is right here, and I respect it and I appreciate it. Everybody can't be one or the other, you know?  Justin: You're right, you're right, you're right. It's much fairer.  Annie: She's someone who, I mean, you know, seems to have changed so much even within that time period. And we had her on a couple of episodes ago and yeah, she's just on fire. She's amazing.  Justin: (49:06) And people speed up as well, right? Because her first couple of books, there were big gaps. And then same thing with like Marilynne Robinson, right? She had massive gaps between books. And then suddenly it starts to speed up. And they're coming out every year, every two years. Yeah. Annie: It's the mortality.  Lito: Well, and life, well, I think lifestyle too, right? Like what you do, how busy you are and what you do out in the world. Like going out and meeting people and being gay in the world, that takes up time.  Annie: And your work has had other lives too. I mean, I'm thinking about how We the Animals was adapted to film in that beautiful, intimate portrait. And I know, you know, Angela, you've been working with HBO and some projects as well. I'm just, just wondering if you want to talk about your work in these other media, how it's been, and even thinking about the strikes, right? Like the WGA-SAG strikes and how that has been on the ground too.  Angela:  Very happy that the strike is over. Solidarity to our SAG-AFTRA brothers and sisters still out there. I passed them on the way here on Sunset. I did honk, wish I was out there today. But I think that for me, it's just like a bonus. Like I, especially now, there's a way that right now writers will say things that are a little snobby like, Oh, I could never be in a writer's room, the group project, man. But like when now that I know so many TV writers living here and I've met so many over the past 146 days on the line, I realized that it is, you just have to be so nimble and agile and you have to also be so not precious about story. But no less smart. A lot of things might end up on TV dumb, but I don't want to blame the writers for that. Now that I really have a real understanding of just how the sausage is made and just how big of like a game of telephone it is—and how much you have to relinquish control because at the end of the day it's like you're making this text, it's literary, but it's also like an instruction manual. It's a completely different way to think about writing. And I don't know how long I live in LA or how many like of those kind of projects I will do but I'm really grateful. And one reason I'm really grateful is because doing those projects and having those years where people thought I wasn't doing anything, but I was actually writing so much and like doing so many revisions.  It helped me realize that there is a way that I blame MFAs for making us like feel very siloed. And like, if you're supposed to be a fiction writer, that's the only thing that you do that's like an output that anyone cares about. But it's so new—like, how many screenplays did Joan Didion write? Like James Baldwin wrote screenplays. Before, it was just like, you're writing, you're writing. Like it's all, it all is the job. And I think every time a poet friend of mine like puts out a novel, sends it to me, read, sends it for me to read—first off, they usually are very good. But then also I'm just like, yes, fiction writers, I think, I don't know who did it. I blame graduate programs, but they have put themselves in this small box. Justin: But yeah, I mean, it's like the MFA, a lot of them feel like teacher training programs and that the next step is teaching. But if you don't want to teach the old models, definitely like you just write for TV. Angela: You write for film, you write for magazines, newspapers, you just do the thing. And that has felt very freeing to me, to just see meet more people who are doing that and also to allow myself to do that. Justin (52:49) Yeah, I mean, I really enjoyed the process of having my film—the book made into a film. I think I had an unusual experience with that. Like a lot of times the author is cut out or, you know, is not deferred to in any way, or nobody's inviting you in. I think because it was such a low budget film, and the director is just a really wonderful person who is incredibly collaborative.  He wanted me involved in every single part of it, and so I loved that. I think, I don't know, I think I might wanna adapt Blackouts for a play. I've been thinking about it lately. Angela: You should. I mean, in so many ways, it is kind of like a two-hander. Yeah. I could see it. Yeah.  Justin: A two-hander. Look at you ready to lingo. No, that's some biz lingo.  Lito: That's going to be the title of this podcast. It's a two-hander. How has art shaped your friendship? And I mean, art, like other genres, we've talked about getting out of the box of fiction, but what movies or art or music do you love to talk about or do you just talk about everything or anything that you're watching and how have other genres affected your work? Like, do you listen to music? Are you influenced by visual art?  Angela: You wanna talk about things you watch on television? You ready to come out in that manner?  Justin: No.  Lito: You watch lots of TV? No. Are you a Housewives person?  You're a Housewives watcher, aren't you?  Justin: Housewives is too highbrow for me. I have like a…I have a secret fetish that is mine. Angela: You have to keep some things for yourself. Justin: Yes. But it's just like, that's how I turn my brain off when my brain needs to be turned off.  Annie: I will wait another decade for that story. Justin: I also like culture and high art as well. You write about art a lot. You do profiles. Angela: I do. I wish I did it more. It's just everything, you know, takes time. I think for me, like when I think about—I just am learning different ways to make a life out of, you know, out of your mind and out of art. And one thing that I've learned when I talk to, like visual artists, particularly, is this idea—I think poets also have this—but fiction writers, a friend of mine actually, a poet, recently asked me, like, how does a fiction writer get a practice, like a practice of writing? Practicing their craft in a way that like a visual artist, you know, they go to the studio practice or poet might have a practice. And I don't believe necessarily that sitting down to write every, you know, three hours every day is the same thing. Because like if you don't know what you're writing, but I really do think that practice is more grounded in reading.  Justin: And reading, I think reading literature for sure, but also reading the world, right? And that's what you do when you go to an exhibit or you go to a museum or you go to a concert or whatever, right, you're like reading, you know, and you're reading the experience, you're reading for other things.  Lito: Is there anything you're both fans of that you both talk about a lot? Any artists or musicians or movies? Justin (56:26) You know, I think that we have some lowbrow sharing tastes. But I think that our highbrow, I don't know. We don't talk a lot about our pursuant— I think I'm into a lot of, like when I was looking at, when I was putting together Blackouts, I was looking at a lot of archival photos and like the photos of Carl Van Vechten, I just, I'm obsessed with…  I've been spending a lot of time with them, thinking about him and his practice. I think that, you know, I like all kinds of stuff. I'm like a whatever, what's that horrible term? Culture vulture?  Angela: I don't think that's what you wanna say. But I know what you mean, yeah.  Justin: Yeah, I am democratic in my tastes. I'm just like, I like everything. We don't have a lot of shared tastes, I don't think.  Angela: Um... No?  Justine: No.  Annie:  I sort of love that. I mean, it, um, the friendship, belies, that, you know, it's only a bonus in that way. I think Lito and I also have very different tastes. There's something kind of lovely about that. Lito: I remember Annie making fun of me for not being hardcore enough in my taste in hip-hop. Annie:    I guess we're putting our dirt out there too.  Lito:   We'll be right back with the Lightning Round. Annie:   Ooh, Lightning Round. Annie: (58:12) Thank you both for talking with us today. This was really wonderful. We really feel the honesty and warmth in your friendship and we're so appreciative that you're sharing that with us today and with all of our LitFriends. We're excited for both your books and we're so grateful you spent the last hour with us.  Angela: That was a pleasure.  Justin: Thank you. Lito: All right, we're gonna we— wrap up the podcast with a Lightning Round, just a few questions. We will ask the question and then I guess we'll do it this way. When I ask the question, Angela, you can answer. And when Annie asks the question, Justin, you answer first. Sorry, first answer first. You're both going to answer the question. What is your first memory?  Angela:  My sister roller skating through sprinklers and falling and hitting her head. Justin: I literally have no idea. I, yeah, I don't know. It's a blackout.  Angela: How many times have you said that?  Lito:  Very on brand.  Angela: You've had a long book tour. Justin: I'm practicing.  Annie: Who or what broke your heart first?  Angela: Is it too deep to say my daddy? I know.  Justin: I was going to say my daddy.  Angela: That's why we're friends.  Justin: I know. It's so sad.  Angela: (59:37) Daddy issues.  Lito: Who would you want to be lit friends with from any time in history?  Angela: Toni Morrison.   Justin: Yeah, maybe Manuel Puig. He seemed really cap and hilarious. And also a brilliant genius.  Angela: I need Toni Morrison to tell me how to raise my child. And to still write books. Someone help me. Annie: What would you like to see your lit friend make or create next, maybe something collaborative or something different or a story they haven't told yet?  Justin: I mean, I think I would love to see you actually write something kind of ekphrastic. Like I'd love to see you write about art. I love when you write about art. I love your thoughts about art and art makers. So maybe, like, a collection of essays about culture. I'd love that. Angela: Besides this two-handed, this play, which I would love for you to write. Maybe there's more, I mean, there's more voices in the book than two, though. So it doesn't have to be. Justin is a poet. I have said this since the beginning. I'm ready for this collection.  Justin: Never occurred to me in my life. Angela:   That is not true.  Justin:   Well, writing a collection. Angela:   Okay, well, I would love for you to write a collection of poetry.  Justin:   Maybe I will. Maybe you just gave me permission, as the children say.  Angela:   Mm-hmm. I know.  Lito: If you could give any gift to your LitFriend without limitations, what would you give them?  Angela: I would give him a house with a yard and a pool.  Justin: That's what I want.  Angela: In a city he wants to live in. That's the key.  Lito: That's the hard part. Justin:  (01:01:35) Um, I would give Angela time to be with her thoughts and her craft. I guess what does that involve?  Angela:   This is because I call myself a busy mom all the time.  Justin: You are a busy mom. Angela: (01:02:08) Thank you, that's a nice gift. Time is the best.  Justin: I mean, it's not as good as a house with a pool.  Angela: I know, because I can use my time as wisely as possible and yet—no pool. Lito: Well, that's our show. Annie & Lito: Happy Friendsgiving! Annie: Thanks for joining us, Lit Fam. Lito:   We'll be back next week with our guests, Lucy Corin and Deb Olin Unferth. Annie: Find us on all your socials @LitFriendsPodcast. Annie: I'm Annie Liontas.  Lito:   And I'm Lito Velázquez.  Annie:   Thank you to our production squad. Our show is edited by Justin Hamilton. Lito:   Our logo was designed by Sam Schlenker.  Annie:   Lizette Saldaña is our marketing director.  Lito:   Our theme song was written and produced by Robert Maresca.  Annie:   And special thanks to our show producer, Toula Nuñez. This was LitFriends, Episode One.

In this enlightening podcast episode, join hosts Nora and Omar on a captivating journey through the intertwined history of Customer Experience (CX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The episode explores the evolution of CX, from its roots in human consciousness to its current holistic and strategic perspective. It delves into the transformative power of AI, showcasing how it has revolutionized the way businesses engage with customers, predict behaviors, and deliver personalized interactions. This historical backdrop provides valuable insights for CX professionals, enthusiasts, and businesses looking to harness AI's potential for enhanced customer experiences in today's digital landscape.In a rapidly evolving world where customer expectations soar, CX has become pivotal for businesses, and AI has emerged as a transformative force. As we trace the historical journey of these two realms, we uncover their profound interplay and the continuous quest to understand and fulfill customer needs. This podcast episode serves as a window into the past, shedding light on how AI and CX have evolved in parallel and intersected, ultimately shaping the dynamic landscape of customer engagement. Tune in for a deeper understanding of the past, present, and future of CX and AI, and the powerful role they play in today's business world.This episode is based on the literature review, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Benjamin Wright for his invaluable assistance and guidance throughout this process.References used in this episode Customer ExperienceJames, W. (1971). The principles of psychology. New York: Dover Publications.Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.Carbone, L. P. (1984). Customer experience: What it is, how to measure it, how to improve it. New York: AMACOM.Pine II, B. J., & Gilmore, J. H. (1999). Welcome to the experience economy. Harvard Business Review Press.Artificial IntelligenceRussell, S., & Norvig, P. (2010). Artificial intelligence: A modern approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Nilsson, N. J. (2014). Artificial intelligence: A new synthesis. Morgan Kaufmann.Poole, D. L., & Mackworth, A. K. (2017). Artificial intelligence: Foundations of computational agents. Cambridge University Press.Additional ReferencesCsikszentmihalyi, M., & Csikszentmihalyi, I. S. (Eds.). (1988). Optimal experience: Psychological studies of flow in consciousness. Cambridge university press.Kotler, P. (2000). Marketing management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Reichheld, F. F. (1996). The loyalty effect: The hidden force behind growth, profits, and lasting value. Harvard Business Press.Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V. A., & Berry, L. L. (1988). SERVQUAL: A multi-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of service quality. Journal of retailing, 64(1), 12-40.Holbrook, M. B., & Hirschman, E. C. (1982). The experiential aspects of consumption: Consumer fantasies, feelings, and fun. Journal of consumer research, 9(2), 132-142.Gummesson, E. (1991). Marketing relationships: A view from the buyer. In Marketing and consumer behavior (pp. 3-23). Routledge.Schmitt, B. H. (1992). Experiential marketing: Incorporating customer experience into marketing strategy. Journal of marketing management, 8(1), 139-162. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, I will reflect on my recent experiences and inspire you to consider 'what is meaningful to you'. Contemplating the passage of time and thinking of the reasons to continue with my daily efforts, I am offering you a journey into the depths of your psyche. What makes you tick? What are you willing to work towards? Why should you continue with your efforts? What makes your life worth living? These and many other questions will be posed on this unique, rather different, and certainly one-day late episode of the podcast. Moreover, we will reflect on the way our emotional states are impacted by holidays, extraordinary activities, and things we do daily. To make your day a little easier and the effort a little more worthwhile - that is the quest of this episode. Of course, I will also offer you a challenge for the week, and give you a healthy dose of optimism necessary to make your time worthwhile.  All the love, all the power, all of the time! Also, as I have mentioned, if you'd like to support my work, please follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RSXTAGFY2QPSG  Sources to explore:  Flow - Flow: The Psychology of Happiness: Amazon.co.uk: Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly: 9780712657594: Books Man's Search for Meaning - Man's Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust: Amazon.co.uk: Frankl, Viktor E: 9781844132393: Books

On this episode of The Motivation Mindset: The Daily Tune-Up, Risa Williams and Stevon Lewis, therapists/authors, dive deep into the complex topic of motivation. They discuss how motivation is not a switch that can be turned on and off, but rather something that kicks in after you start taking action. They discuss:-The Flow State, an optimal state of engagement and focus that many people strive to achieve. -Activation Energy -Mental Rehearsal and Mental Prep Work-Removing barriers that hold you backTools Discussed: Flow and Activation Energy (from Csikszentmihalyi's book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience), First Step Finder, Goal Setting, and Goal Tracking (From Risa's book, The Ultimate Self-Esteem Toolkit).Related Episodes: Habit Stacking, Season 1/Ep. 25 and  Episode 22Hosts: Risa Williams, www.risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapy and Stevon Lewis, www.stevonlewis.com, @stevonlewismft.Support the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

In this special episode called  The Time Toolkit, Trevor Stockwell joins Risa Williams to talk about forming new habits in order to achieve goals.The discuss habit stacking, getting intentional about your goals, and establishing daily routines that get you in the flow, as well as how people sometimes get stuck at the starting line with forming new habits.Tools and references discussed: The First Step Finder (from Risa's book, The Ultimate Time Management Toolkit), Habit Stacking, and the concept of "Flow" (termed by M. Csikszentmihalyi).References mentioned: Dr. Ned Hallowell, BJ Fogg, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.Host: Risa Williams, LMFT. www.risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest Co-Host: Trevor Stockwell, www.trevorstockwell.com, @tsleadershipdevIf you're enjoying these episodes, please consider donating a cup of coffee to the show here: patreon.com/risawilliams.Support the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

Can you recall an experience where you were so in the zone doing something that time was flying by? That is a flow experience, which is the topic of today's episode. We discuss what a flow experience is, how to achieve it, and how it can help your life. References: Jackson, S. (1995). Factors influencing the occurrence of flow state in elite athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 7, 138–166. Payne, B. R., Jackson, J. J., Noh, S. R., & Stine-Morrow, E. A. L. (2011). In the zone: Flow state and cognition in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 26(3), 738–743. Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). The concept of flow. In Flow and the foundations of positive psychology (pp. 239-263). Springer, Dordrecht. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/noggin-psychologypodcast/message

TODAY´S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FLOW RESEARCH COLLECTIVE Are you an entrepreneur, a leader, or a knowledge worker, who wants to harness the power of flow so you can get more done in less time with greater ease and accomplish your boldest professional goals faster? If you've answered this question with “hell yes” then our peak-performance training Zero to Dangerous may be a good fit for you. If this sounds of interest to you all you need to do is click here right now, pop in your application and one of our team members will be in touch with you very soon.   ABOUT THE EPISODE: As the end of 2022 draws near, we present the best of Flow Research Collective Radio's episodes to help you achieve more flow and accomplish your boldest goals for 2023. This is an episode filled with strategies and tactics that have been put to the test and has allowed individuals to tap into their full potential and massively transform their lives. Start the year strong with flow and discover what it takes to do the impossible.   In this episode, you will learn about:   Csikszentmihalyi's Contributions to Flow & Creativity (01:13) How to Set & Actually Achieve Goals (10:39) State of The Economy (16:49) Simple Biohacking Strategies (23:59) Rising To Your Purpose (29:23) Flow & Depression (38:22) ‍ STEVEN KOTLER is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and Founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world's leading experts on human performance. His books include The Art of Impossible, Stealing Fire, and The Rise of Superman. His work has been translated into over 40 languages and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, TIME, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, The Harvard Business Review and Forbes.  

TODAY'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FLOW RESEARCH COLLECTIVE Are you an entrepreneur, a leader, or a knowledge worker, who wants to harness the power of flow so you can get more done in less time with greater ease and accomplish your boldest professional goals faster? If you've answered this question with “hell yes” then our peak-performance training Zero to Dangerous may be a good fit for you. If this sounds of interest to you all you need to do is click here right now, pop in your application and one of our team members will be in touch with you very soon.   ABOUT THE EPISODE: As the end of 2022 draws near, we present the best of Flow Research Collective Radio's episodes to help you achieve more flow and accomplish your boldest goals for 2023. This is an episode filled with strategies and tactics that have been put to the test and has allowed individuals to tap into their full potential and massively transform their lives. Start the year strong with flow and discover what it takes to do the impossible.   In this episode, you will learn about:   Csikszentmihalyi's Contributions to Flow & Creativity (01:13) How to Set & Actually Achieve Goals (10:39) State of The Economy (16:49) Simple Biohacking Strategies (23:59) Rising To Your Purpose (29:23) Flow & Depression (38:22) ‍ STEVEN KOTLER is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and Founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world's leading experts on human performance. His books include The Art of Impossible, Stealing Fire, and The Rise of Superman. His work has been translated into over 40 languages and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, TIME, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, The Harvard Business Review and Forbes.

I've been curious about why I went from a 100% commitment to this podcast to a 50-70% commitment. It's so easy to slip inot complacency and excuse-making which leads to sporadic and inconsistent action. I noticed I was falling into all-or-nothing thinking and I don't want those to be the only 2 options I give myself. In this episode I talk about the concept of Flow coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He states that happiness is achieved when we can challenge ourselves appropriately. If something is too easy, we get bored and complacent. When it's too hard, we feel stressed. The key is finding the sweet spot of just hard enough. “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile” - (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). I share my new plan for my daily creation (with one day of rest) that's nudging me just outside my comfort zone (but not blasting past it). Acheiving goals in a state of flow is one of the things you'll learn to do in the Pleasure Project Program. Get details here. Got questions? DM me on Instagram here.

Many teams struggle with burnout, belonging, and breakthrough innovation. Silos, matrix reporting and disconnection get in the way of results. What if we could navigate some of our most important collective challenges by accessing collective flow? I sat down with Dr. Keith Sawyer, author of Group Genius, who is a pre-eminent researcher on this topic and worked directly with the “father of flow”, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.Dr. Keith Sawyer, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is one of the country's leading scientific experts on creativity.  He has published 18 books and over 100 scientific articles. His research has been featured on CNN, Fox News, TIME Magazine, NPR, and other media.  A popular speaker, he lectures to corporations, associations, and universities around the world on creativity and innovation.  In this episode Keith discussed some of the most important activators of group flow based on his own experience playing in a jazz band as well as extensive study of improv actors and large teams and organizations that regularly create conditions for group flow. Some of the activators include meaningful shared goals and risks, close listening and attention, trust and connection among the members, blending of ego's and giving up personal agendas. We discussed both the benefits and the challenges of this in leadership teams. If this topic interests you, reach out as collective flow is the topic of my next book and I'm interested in working with leaders and teams who have high stakes challenges that need breakthrough thinking and alignment.“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile”(Csikszentmihalyi, 1990)- Sign up for leadership tips to thrive in disruption - leave a review on Apple Podcasts - Follow podcast host on LinkedIn

This podcast is about a butt ton of Coors Light on a Florida highway and flow states. A few years ago, we talked about FLOW on our podcast and then I just did again over on our LIVING HAPPY newsletter, but I thought it would be pretty cool to talk about it for another hot second because more people are talking about it now. We're trendsetters, baby. DOG TIP FOR LIFE: To get that flow state, stay focused, persistent, give yourself time, minimize distractions and make it a tiny bit hard. It's like chasing a cat. You always think you might catch it, but it's not easy.  RANDOM THOUGHT LINK https://www.npr.org/2022/09/22/1124451096/florida-coors-light-beer-cans-highway-crash https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645498/full https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5763465/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/flow-state

Being aware that our thoughts are packets of potential is critical to succeeding in realizing our goals because how we water those seeds of potential weighs heavily on how our reality plays out. The truth is that most people in our modern society are fighting for their limitations which comes from a deep fear that they may be a great success. And although that seems contradictory to an athlete's character, self-sabotage fueled by fear of success is commonplace these days.In this episode, I share a story of how I recognized fear of success within my own story and the signs and symptoms that parallel fear of success. Also, I touch upon how changes in the racing environment are not helping us let our yes be yes. Fear of success manifests in ways that we are not conscious of, behaviors and patterns that are sure signs of self-sabotage and fear of success. Typically it occurs when we are stepping into the unknown, but it is essential to remember that although the unknown can be scary, this realm is where the potential for our success exists.The study referenced in this episode: Science has shown that mindfulness is linked to present moment focus which is the essence of the psychology of peak performance in sport (Jackson & Csikszentmihalyi, 1999; Ravizza, 2002).Interested in joining other like-minded athletes on the path to mastery? Please check out YogiTriathlete's Patreon community:  www.patreon.com/yogitriathlete

The ability to motivate yourself is an important skill to have in life. Self-motivation drives us to keep going even in the face of setbacks, to take up opportunities, and to show commitment to what we want to achieve. Self-motivation is in its simplest form, the force that drives us to do things. This topic of self-motivation, however, is far from simple. We can be motivated by many things, both internal and external, such as the desire to do something, to love someone, or the need for money. And usually, motivation is a result of several factors. Listen. Challenge: Creating a motivation board that includes all your goals, aspirations, and dreams can also be an effective form of motivation. Some call it a vision board, and it is basically a visual incentive that can help you to find excitement and enthusiasm through pictures of what you want, making it harder to ignore than words. It should be placed somewhere where you can see it every day because out of sight is out of mind. Other visual aids such as drawing, video recordings, and viewing images of others accomplishing what you want to accomplish are all powerful tools to make your subconscious mind aligned with your conscious desire. Reflective Journal Exercise: I want to invite you to please take some time to reflect on the following sequential questions around your motivation journey. If you can write it down you are welcome or perhaps just reflect where you are at. · When last did you feel motivated and excited to work towards something? · What about that time/situation made it motivating to you? · What does this insight tell you about what and how you are motivated? · What do you need to do more of or less of now, to have that motivation back in your life again? Keeping this in mind will help give you the backbone onto which you can build in order for you to understand how to get to, or maintain your motivation. Links Calendly: https://calendly.com/ericakelechi (Book a 15-minute complimentary consultation) Additional Resources FLOW questionnaire Intrinsically motivating activities can be identified through the experience sampling method originally used by Csikszentmihalyi to identify the states of flow. The below questionnaire can help you understand how you allocate your attention throughout the day and if you spend a lot of time investing your energy effectively. This should be done over at least a week but preferably two. Set your phone to prompt you during the day at random times to notice what you are doing and jot down the answers to the following questions. · At this moment, what are you doing, and who are you with? · How satisfied are you on a scale of 1 to 10? · How much skill is needed for this activity? Choose one: no skills needed/some skills required/ a moderate amount of skills used/ had to stretch to do this activity · Describe your level of motivation: doing this because you have nothing else to do/ doing this because I am told to/ doing this because I have to/ doing this because I want to · How challenged are you by the activity on a scale of 1 to 10? · How much are you concentrating on a scale of 1 to 10? Motivation Quiz This quiz will help you find out how self-motivated you are: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/quiz/945353 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Episode 92: Have Faith and Believe In Everyday Magic Show Description: Living a magical life is seeing the wonder all around you each day. Be mindful of the miracles and open your eyes to see the synchronicities.Top Takeaways:[2:35] Nine Ways to Unlock the Magic in Your Life1.    [2:56] Constantly Ask Yourself Questions. 2.    [3:44] Seek to Be in the State of Flow. 3.    [4:49] Pass on Magical Acts of Kindness.  4.    [5:30] Embrace the Mysteries of Life.  5.    [6:37] Let Your Magical Weirdness Shine. 6.    [7:26] Be Mindful of the Spells You Cast with Your Words.  7.    [8:47] Use Rituals to Help Your Mindshift. 8.    [9:24] Spend Time in the Magic of Nature.9.    [10:10] Respond with Love in All Situations. [11:21] Magically Moving Forward Episode Links: Ø  https://terrikozlowski.mastermind.com/masterminds/25609 Ø  Belief in possibilities  Ø  Stretching Ø  Whispers from your soul Ø  Question yourselfØ  Be in flow with the Universe Ø  Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, there are eight characteristics of flowØ  Encourage someoneØ  Synchronicities Ø  Personality quirks Ø  Power of words Ø  Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements, Ø  RoutinesØ  Serenity Ø  Love is the balmØ  Different perspectivesØ  See the miracles Ø  Get in touch with meØ  Raven Transcending FearSupport the show (https://paypal.me/TerriKozlowski)

In this episode, Coach Chelsea talk about achieving flow and some basic constructs for doing so.  The article referenced in the podcast is:  Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2020). The experience of flow: Theory and research. In S. J. Lopez, L. M. Edwards, & S. C. Marques (Eds.), Oxford handbook of positive psychology (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

In this episode of the COO's Corner, Tamar brings on Josh Greco, an expert and business coach with a passion for developing people professionally, personally, and spiritually. Josh will challenge our listeners to hold up the mirror and see potential – the reminder of what's possible – and reflect upon improving their thinking patterns to gain clarity, wisdom, and wellbeing from within. This type of self-mastery can be expanded on and applied in organizations, empowering teams to examine, manage and improve their processes through conscious leadership. Josh will challenge companies to think about where there's room for growth because he firmly stands by the idea that improvement is possible for everyone, everywhere. Join us today to learn about strategies for individuals to push the boundaries of what they think they're capable of, and for companies to instill a culture of conscious leadership. Be sure to stay tuned toward the end so you don't miss out on Josh's gift for the listeners and followers of the COO's Corner Podcast. - [00:01:43] What is conscious leadership? - [00:05:27] Acknowledging potential - [00:07:02] Creating a compelling vision - [00:10:03] Being aware of our thought patterns - [00:11:56] A gratitude exercise to become more conscious - [00:14:54] Being comfortable with the uncomfortable - [00:18:40] How to achieve expanded awareness - [00:22:08] Strategies for organizations to build a conscious leadership culture - [00:25:01] About Mindscan - [00:27:06] Tamar asks her quintessential last question “[When fear] shows up, it's like, ‘No, this time is different, it feels different,' but it's not. It's in the same category as all the other fear, we just don't have that perspective yet to overcome it. That's how you overcome it, is you lean into it, and you study it, and you think about it, and you inevitably come up with another way, and that's gratifying to me.” Josh Greco The COO's Corner, Episode 11 Josh Greco Business Coach, ProAdvisorCoach With over a decade of business development experience as a top performer in both the Logistics and Construction industries, Joshua brings a passion to develop people professionally, personally, and spiritually. He moved to Charlotte, NC in 2011 in pursuit of new perspectives after completing his formal education at SUNY Fredonia, and now splits his time between Charlotte and Western NY. His career path has naturally led him to ProAdvisorCoach where he combines his business development background with his natural affinity to tap into the best of people even before they see it themselves. His primary focus is on coaching business leaders to harness their REBEL ENERGY in order to live the most fulfilling life possible. He hosts a weekly podcast with a fellow coach, called #truthseekers, where guests share their experiences overcoming obstacles to get to where they are today. Learn more about Josh's work at https://proadvisorcoach.com/Connect with Josh on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-greco-03312245/ RESOURCES MENTIONED: - Tamar's listeners can reach out to Josh for a free Mindscan assessment (valued originally at $500) at joshua@proadvisorcoach.com - Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Harper Perennial, (1990) https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202 Reach out to Tamar at tamar@tamarnelson.com Connect with Tamar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-nelson/ Learn more about Tamar's work at https://tamarnelson.com/ Please leave a review and thanks for listening. All good thingTamar #TheCOOCorner #Podcast #COO #leadership #business #vision

We're always worried about being productive enough with our time, but where does this compulsion come from? In episode 48, Ellie and David examine productivity culture and the drive to produce. Although research says longer hours don't equal more productivity, capitalism encourages us to always be working, even at the cost of our mental and physical health. How does this inefficient approach to work (and our lives outside of it) stifle our growth and creativity? According to Twitter memes and Bifo, refusing productivity for lazy relaxation on the beach may be a revolutionary rejection of productivity culture, but Adorno contends that laziness recycles us into merely consuming commodities for capitalism instead of producing them. What can a creative, process-based approach offer us that a productivist one cannot, and what value might there be in just producing less?Works CitedAmelia Horgan, “The ‘Dark Academia' Subculture Offers a Fantasy Alternative to the Neoliberal University”John Pencavel, “The Productivity of Working Hours”Shainaz Firfiray, “Long hours at the office could be killing you – the case for a shorter working week”Economic Policy Institute, “The Productivity-Pay Gap”Foucault, History of MadnessFranco Berardi, FuturabilityHerbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional ManTheodor Adorno, Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged LifeMihály Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal ExperienceCal Newport, “It's Time to Embrace Slow Productivity”Mark Fisher, Capitalist RealismWebsite | overthinkpodcast.comInstagram & Twitter | @overthink_podEmail |  Dearoverthink@gmail.comYouTube | Overthink podcast

Transform your waking life into something intentional and empowering. Flow happens when you are fully present and engaged in what you are doing and timelessly committed to the activity. Applied to any type of art or work, it creates an efficiency and clarity of purpose that feel great and can also be applied to everyday activities like brushing teeth or walking to the mailbox. It can transform your waking life into something intentional and empowering. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered that people find genuine satisfaction during a state of consciousness called Flow. In this state they are completely absorbed in an activity, especially an activity which involves their creative abilities. During this “optimal experience” they feel “strong, alert, in effortless control, unselfconscious, and at the peak of their abilities.” In the footsteps of Maslow, Csikszentmihalyi insists that happiness does not simply happen. It must be prepared for and cultivated by each person, by setting challenges that are neither too demanding nor too simple for ones abilities.Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi (1934 - 2021) was a Hungarian-American psychologist. He recognized and named the psychological concept of "flow", a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity. He was the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is also the founder and co-director of the Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC). The QLRC is a nonprofit research institute that studies positive psychology, the study of human strengths such as optimism, creativity, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility.From the Archives: This live interview was recorded on October 10,  1996 on the nationally syndicated radio program, hosted by Laura Lee . See more at www.lauralee.com

Isabelle, David welcome Isabelle's husband, Bobby, and David's friend and clinician, Noah (who also have ADHD) and all connect four weeks into the lockdown of 2020 to meet virtually and play online game to help beat the pandemic fears and the scared and cooped-up blues. We're overstimulated with grief, shame, sorrow, anxiety, etc, and yet under stimulated with the lack of transitions, being cooped up in our house, seeing the same two rooms every day. David talks about missing novel chaos, and also, what game should they play? After spending a while playing some online games together, Isabelle talks about gaming as a coping strategy; game play as a way to cope. The opposite of play is not work, it's depression, or neural death. A play state is new neural connections firing and wiring together (neurologically similar to learning, see below for more!). We're often play-deprived anyway as adults. We're in a place of a lot of pain and depression as a society; toxic positivity aside, people are experiencing a lot of loss, and we experience grief and depression when we have loss. When we're in it for so long, it's important to know how we get out—and play might not be a go-to or feel intuitive or easy—even David wanted to not play but talk about other things, like functioning in a society without clear rules or boundaries. But it meant a lot to David to try to play. Noah points out that we are missing human interaction, limited ability to be in the world, getting that social itch scratched in a safer way. Bobby had fun playing a game. Isabelle drops some knowledge about play: play as an impulse, like sleep, common to social mammals. It's an impulse that can even be prioritized about other needs, such a food. Example of polar bear playing with huskies while starving and waiting to go into their hunting grounds (and then returning when not hungry) How we need play as neotenous (juvenile) brained creatures. Washing dishes could be play, even—if you're in the flow state, not something you have to do, but maybe you hum on the way to the car. Really social, too. Recognizing that play is a hard subject for those of us who experienced neglect or other traumas that impacted whether or how we could play. Safety needs to be established for play to happen: play happens whether or not you believe you did in the past, but how you viewed your past as playful or play-deprived or whether you had enough safety.More on play Stuart Brown, MD - Ted Talk that mentions consequences of play deprivation National Institute for Play (co-founded by Stuart Brown) To check out more about play and learn more about the polar bear story, check out his book (co-written with Christopher Vaughan): Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul Husky playing with polar bear story (Real Wild documentary) — please note, initially the polar bears were hungry, and then they would return every year and keep playing even when not (for the full story, see above book) ISABELLE'S DEFINITIONS Play: an impulse and a human right, according to the UN. Borrowing from Stuart Brown's definition, includes a purposeless, a continuity desire (want to keep doing it) and is often a simulation where you can take risks with no consequences (or limited consequences, like animals play fighting, they're not going to bite down as hard). Play can be daydreaming, writing, art-making, watching a movie, doing dishes, humming a song. On a neurological level, play in the same as learning (a neural state where neural connections are being wired), which is the opposite of the brain state of depression (or neural slow-down or death). Flow state: A term coined by Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, it's a state of being or performance where you are in the zone: fully absorbed or engaged in your task, you lose a sense of time and self (you get lost in it, your worries or self-consciousness melts away).For more on flow, check out Csikszentmihalyi's seminal book: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal ExperienceFor a cool article on how flow may work in the brain: The Neuroscience of the Flow State: Involvement of the Locus Coeruleus Norepinephrine System-----visit somethingshinypodcast.com for full show notes, links, and more!-----Cover Art by: Sol VázquezTechnical Support by: Bobby Richards

Have you ever been “in the zone”, the highly focused mental state conducive to optimal creativity and productivity? In positive psychology, this is known as the Flow state, the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process. Coined by Hungarian American Psychologist and author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (you'll have to listen to know how it's pronounced!) flow is, at its core, about achieving happiness, joy, purpose, and optimal performance. A lot of people say that the purpose of life is to be happy. I'm not so sure. I challenge this thinking in this episode arguing that maybe the purpose OF life is to find purpose IN life. This episode explores how that flow state is note bestowed, rather, it can be developed. This week's episode focuses on how we can learn to achieve flow in our lives. The key aspect to flow is control: in the flow-like state, we exercise control over the contents of our consciousness rather than allowing ourselves to be passively determined by external forces. “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… The best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990). It's not necessary to wait for lightning (or your flow state) to strike. If we understand the benefits and outcomes of flow and reinforce the habits and circumstances that can cultivate flow, we can continue to cultivate joy and accomplish worthwhile things. Some references from this week's episode: Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row. Walker, C. (2010). Experiencing Flow: Is Doing it Together Better Than Doing It Alone? The Journal of Positive Psychology. 5. 3-11. 10.1080/17439760903271116. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233265431_Experiencing_Flow_Is_Doing_it_Together_Better_Than_Doing_it_Alone/link/56be22af08ae44da37f8919d/download https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare      

Welcome back listeners to another episode of MurphMorale. As always, thank you for listening in. This episode has my first impressions of medical school after about a week of the grind. I'm talking about what makes medical school the coolest thing ever and we're mixing it up with some Harry Potter references as well. Towards the end I briefly bring up this idea of "The Flow State" and why it's helpful to know about this concept for your life.   Contact Email:murphmorale@gmail.comDr. Csikszentmihalyi and the Flow State TED talkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_u-Eh3h7MoChef Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK-ZUFX5fnkHidden Past by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3873-hidden-pastLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseStrength Of The Titans by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5744-strength-of-the-titansLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

There’s a quote I read recently on the student debt situation in the US attributed to Noam Chomsky that goes like this…“Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of debt, they can’t afford the time to think. Tuition fee increases are a “disciplinary technique,” and, by the time students graduate, they are not only loaded with debt, but have also internalized the “disciplinarian culture.” This makes them efficient components of the consumer economy.”As I sit at my desk this morning feeling the mild yet important sense of urgency to get invoices issued, allocate client payments, and generally get my business affairs in order after a lengthy pause, I realise that this quote applies to us all and in all circumstances. Pressure to fulfil certain obligations focuses the mind, ignoring all other demands for our attention. Where those obligations are financial, and given that money or the lack thereof is often the difference between living and dying, it tends to keep us from matters that are arguably more important to our survival.The social and cultural imperative to earn and contribute weighs heavy. The idea is so utterly ingrained in our psyche that not to follow the pre-written script for a successful life leads us to believe any alternative to the current system inconceivable. Not to have a degree, for example, is to consign oneself to flipping burgers or sweeping the street and low if that’s the career we want for ourselves or our children. Arguably, an undergraduate degree is not worth the paper it’s written on, given the number of people that hold one. A Masters is hardly even enough to distinguish you from your competition these days.And perhaps that’s the problem. We’ve entered a game, the only game in town, it seems, that can possibly bring about a life worth living, but it has the opposite effect to the one it promises. It’s almost unquestionable that young people should do anything other than enter college. Machines make furniture and build houses, so manual work is all but gone. And what’s left is so below the required cultural status, it’s not even considered. To do so is to go against the grain and pre-written script of education.Some enter manual work, of course, the trades, for example, or perhaps the visual arts or performance. But even there, the market dictates your lot. It decides how much you should be paid and spares you not from the cycle of debt that awaits us all. Very few escape the debt cycle, and under its weight, we can’t think. Everything we do is focused on getting money to pay off debt or give us a well-earned break from the toil of daily work–a holiday, a new TV, to trade our old smelly car for a brand new model, a pizza and a few beers–anything to distract us from the pressure. But all of this serves to perpetuate the problem. The majority feel this. I felt this.Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the author of Flow, calls this perpetual struggle to overcome obstacles “chronic dissatisfaction”, and we make all kinds of attempts to overcome it. Religion is the answer for some, but the author warns that this investment in external imagined sources of power is no longer adequate after a time. The pursuit of wealth and status is perhaps the modern equivalent, but they can’t provide the solution either. The quality of life cannot be improved this way, Csikszentmihalyi says. Only by direct control of our experience, the ability to derive moment-to-moment enjoyment from experience, can we overcome the obstacles to a fulfilled and contented life. But how can we do that when most of us struggle to stay above water?Csikszentmihalyi view might sound idealistic, and it is. In all human experience, there is a flip side–we cannot have the good without the bad. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve got to accept our lot. Change happens all the time, but we’ve got to take the prompt and cease ignoring it if that change is to change to something better. We can’t think straight when we’re under pressure, and debt causes immense pressure on ordinary people’s ability to think. Financial implications, the expectation of pain, narrow the scope of our ability to make informed choices and decisions. Under the pressure of debt and money concerns, nothing changes for the better, and that goes for governments as well as ordinary people.“If you say that getting the money is the most important thing you’ll spend your life completely wasting your time. You’ll be doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on living, that is, to go on doing things you don’t like doing, which is stupid. Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way. And after all, if you do really like what you’re doing, it doesn't matter what it is, you can eventually become a master of it. The only way to become a master of something is to be really with it. And then you’ll be able to get a good fee for whatever it is… but it’s absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don’t like in order to go on doing things you don’t like, and to teach your children to follow in the same track. You see, what we're doing is, we’re bringing up children and educating them to live the same sort of lives we’re living in order that they may justify themselves and find satisfaction in life by bringing up their children, to bring up their children, to do the same thing so it’s all wretch and no vomit. It never gets there.”The above quote is taken from a video I first saw about ten years ago. It’s meaningful for many reasons, but mostly because it verified what I inherently thought to be true but was reluctant to accept–I was incompatible with the system. I needed a new way of working. In fact, most of us are incompatible with that system. It makes us sick, and psychologists and HR departments try desperately to cure us, to make us efficient, productive and healthy. For what? To keep the system going, of course, because for it to stop is inconceivable. But there’s a new economic ideology taking hold spearheaded by economists such as Stephanie Kelton. This new ideology says that Governments can run on a deficit perfectly well, and people’s basic needs can be catered for, freeing them from the daily pressure to survive. Covid has shown us this in glaringly obvious terms, and the voice in favour of Universal Basic Income, for example, is getting louder. It’s part of a solution, a better way to run the financial affairs of our society and perhaps the financial affairs of families too. With basic needs catered for, maybe we’ll have the freedom to pursue activities that we’d really like. I don’t mean frivolous stuff like buying TVs and getting drunk—we use those things to medicate ourselves. Instead, I mean activities that Watts spoke about. We might have the space to think rather than act knee-jerk to challenges and difficulty. Maybe we won’t feel so threatened by people of another skin colour or religious persuasion. Wealthy people living comfortable lives are not the ones on the street rioting, shooting guns, getting involved in crime. It’s the people with fuck-all that are disenchanted. Lack of financial resources breeds social unrest.Currently, daily work for most people is a means to pay back debt–a hamster wheel that we can only get off if we stay the pace. If you’re lucky, you can pay off your mortgage in your fifties. Most don’t, however. Some don’t even have enough life, leaving their debt to their children. All of this means that we don’t really have a democracy with people capable of making informed decisions because of the burden of debt and the pressure to survive make the decisions for them. There has to be a better way, and the new economic ideology may be a chink of light we need.Universal Basic Income is just one tool in the hands of the new economic ideology, and I’m so excited about this movement that I’ll be writing on this over the coming months. Modern Monetary Theory is at its heart, and if you haven’t heard of it by now, give this episode of The David McWilliams Podcast a listen.Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff. If you enjoy Sunday Letters, consider supporting my work. I’m on Twitter if you’d like to follow me there. Oh, and there’s the Sunday Letters Podcast. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sundayletters.larrygmaguire.com/subscribe

Yes, I know, it’ confusing. I thought it would be. This is the first episode of the Sunday Letters newsletter in audio format, yet it’s Issue 127. Ok, so here’s the story…I’ve been writing Sunday Letters since 2015, and although I have published podcast material with the newsletter before today, it has never been branded Sunday Letters. Now that I’m testing a move from MailChimp to Substack, I figured adding a podcast under the same name is a good idea.I had considered adding an audio clip in MailChimp but it wasn’t possible to embed a media file on the published page. A YouTube video yes, but an audio, no. So, when I saw Substack could not only do this but allow publishing to podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, I decide to jump in and give it a blast.A quick intro; I’m Larry Maguire, I’m a writer with a BA in psychology studying a Masters in work psychology at DCU. I’ve been self-employed for 20+ years and I am a recovering entrepreneur. Recovering, because I found that way of living exhausting–the constant pressure to achieve and to put on a show. Today I’m not chasing much. There’s nothing out there ahead of me with which I need to catch up. Instead, I follow my nose and see where it takes me. I’m curious and frequently get lost in things, but I do so for the enjoyment of the thing rather than what I can get out of it. The inherent value of the work coupled with the anticipation for what will happen next is what’s most important for me these days when it comes to work.The ContentI write. I can’t stop writing. I read too, although taking a book from cover to cover is a rarity. Instead, I browse, and if what I find happens to broaden my views on the world, I’ll combine it somehow and perhaps write on it. Philosophy and psychology are my regular go-to topics and you’ll see these featured regularly in the material I publish. In particular, I examine our relationship with daily work; that thing we do during our waking hours, for one-third of our lives or more. I have found from my early research on wellbeing at work, that vast waves of people are at odds with daily work; about 40%. In fact, you probably know this to be true anecdotally. It’s a love-hate, need-want, push-pull kind of thing. Very few can say that they are flat-out in love with their work.I write often on the nature and structure of the self; that aspect of personal reality that we call “me” or “I”, and also cannot identify. Whatever I am, I can never really put my finger on it, and all conceptualisations seem to leave something out. It is the reality of being and existence and our coming to terms with all that it comprises. It is the fundamental question with which all human beings must grapple and yet never comprehensibly answer. If we are not asking; who am I? then we live in the fake plastic reality of our own making. It is living in this question and accepting that it can never be answered is that helps us cope. Shit happens, and if you want to deal with it and survive, then this is the only question worth asking oneself.Self, and the work it does, you or me the work we do; this is the full extent of our lives. That work can be whatever we choose, but within this waking existence there is activity, and the measure of the lives we live is the extent and nature of this activity and its impact on others. So you see, this idea provides a framework for discussing our reality. Maybe it’s too heavy, but I think it’s worth it.The Value of WorkI’m always on the lookout, or maybe it’s on the lookout for me, for examples of craftsmanship (using the pronoun in a universal sense). This morning as I walked home from the park with the kids, I saw this..I don’t know about you, but if I ever need a bricky, I’m hiring this guy and his crew. This wall was built by a bloke that both gives a shit about quality and workmanship, and has put the time and effort into creating something others can admire. Be careful now! I’m not saying that the admiration of others is the target, it is rather a consequence. People can admire our work but only if it’s done for the right reason, that is, under our own command and out of our own interests. Chomsky, quoting famous thinkers of the Enlightenment period, said;“…if a person works, if a person does beautiful work under external command, meaning for wages, we may admire what he does but we despise what he is. Because he’s not a free human being.”It is the biggest problem we encounter today in daily work; we do it to get somewhere or some thing. Our work has become transactional and soulless and yet we wonder why so many of us are at odds with work. Doing work primarily for its inherent enjoyment and self-gratification, it is that which is the seed to great work. That for me is what daily work is all about. However, that’s not to say we’ll always get the best results from our work–we’re not supposed to–but it does mean we care enough about what we’re doing to immerse ourselves in it for long periods without distraction. That’s really the secret to doing great work.Some say that it has to do with patience, but that’s not accurate. Patience implies the possibility of impatience, of unease with something. It says there is a risk of failure or that the end result will evade all our efforts. If patience or impatience exist is means we are conscious of the result, and if we are conscious of the result, we are outside the work. It implies that there is an end result. But the truth is that when we are immersed in our work for the sake of it, in what Csikszentmihalyi called Flow, there is no thought for end results. If within our work we are concerned with patience or a lack thereof, our head is in the wrong place.Forget it. You might as well stay in bed.Most of the world is in this frame of mind; the need to have things turn out a particular way, and for others to conform to prewritten directives. It is what destroys creative thinking and our chances of success before we even start. And so this is my personal philosophy for life and work. Not for happiness per se, but rather a balance, and there is an imperative that has possessed me to share this idea.Everything I write is saturated with this idea, and if it resonates with you, then I’m glad you’re here. I should say, however, if what I have to offer is at odds with your thinking and beliefs, I welcome your comments. Because it is that to and fro of discussion and engagement that makes life interesting.It is the success and failure, the wins and losses, war and peace, black and white and all the shades in between that makes life worth living.Thanks for reading/listening to Sunday Letters this week. I’m looking forward to producing more content here on Substack, and if you like what you’ve read today, consider supporting this work.See you Sunday (or Wednesday).Website | Twitter | Medium | YouTubeThanks for taking the time to read my stuff. If you enjoy Sunday Letters, consider supporting my work. I’m on Twitter if you’d like to follow me there. Oh, and there’s the Sunday Letters Podcast. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sundayletters.larrygmaguire.com/subscribe

This situation has forced me to consider why I'm doing the whole Satanist Reads the Bible project in the first place. I've never really had to think about it before because it's always been fun, interesting, and meaningful work, but very rapidly over the last couple weeks, my sense of meaning and purpose in the world has fallen out from under me, and I've had to adjust to that with regards to everything that I do, including this podcast. Works Cited or Consulted A World Without Children. (2019, September 5). The Point Magazine. https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/a-world-without-children/ Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2009). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (Nachdr.). Harper [and] Row. Cuarón, A. (2006, September 22). Children of Men [Drama, Thriller]. Universal Pictures, Strike Entertainment, Hit & Run Productions. Dixit, A. K., & Nalebuff, B. J. (2010). The art of strategy: A game theorist's guide to success in business & life. Norton & Company. Event 201, a pandemic exercise to illustrate preparedness efforts. (n.d.). Even 201. Retrieved March 17, 2020, from http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/ Hegel, G. W. F., Miller, A. V., & Findlay, J. N. (2013). Phenomenology of spirit (Reprint.). Oxford Univ. Press. Horowitz, A. (2012, October 6). GOP Rep.: Evolution, Big Bang “Lies Straight From The Pit Of Hell.” HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-broun-evolution-big-bang_n_1944808 Huntington, S. P. (2011). The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order (Simon & Schuster hardcover ed). Simon & Schuster. Kaufmann, W. A., & Nehamas, A. (2013). Nietzsche: Philosopher, psychologist, antichrist (First Princeton classics edition). Princeton University Press. List of epidemics. (2020). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_epidemics&oldid=946207636 National Security Council. (n.d.). The White House. Retrieved March 17, 2020, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ Nietzsche, F. W., & Kaufmann, W. A. (1974). The gay science: With a prelude in rhymes and an appendix of songs (1st ed.). Vintage Books. Spanish flu. (2020). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spanish_flu&oldid=946121163 The End Is Coming. (2020, March 11). The Point Magazine. https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/the-end-is-coming-agnes-callard/ Trump disbanded NSC pandemic unit that experts had praised. (2020, March 14). AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/ce014d94b64e98b7203b873e56f80e9a --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/asatanistreadsthebible/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/asatanistreadsthebible/support

If you have heard about flow and want to know what science says about it—or even if you're new to the subject and curious to learn what it is—then this episode is for you. After hearing about flow myself, I was intrigued and decided to look a little deeper into what it really is and how it checks out when it comes to scientific research. Listen in to learn how flow relates to happiness and what you can do to achieve an optimal experience. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.scienceofselfhelppodcast.com/42