The article of "Csikszentmihalyi on Happiness" (pursuit-of-happiness.org, 2009) is a very good article, which explains how Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's happy "flow" makes us happy. Mihalyi is one of the founding figures of positive psychology
However, as a layman in psychology, I would like to to explain, in a layman way, Csikszentmihalyi's perspective by means of our everyday common sense and instincts.
What is Happiness?
Obviously, by common sense, happiness is one of our most important instincts, which is the momentarily feeling of things being a step better for keeping our DNA alive. No matter how small the step may be! (Re #1)
"Flow" is "Happiness Occupies CPU Exclusively"
(1) Apparently, by the common sense of computer users, the happy feeling in the "flow" state is due to all the memory of the CPU is occupied exclusively by the task, which cause the happiness. Thus, there is no memory any more for other unhappy tasks of relatively less importance to inform us the processed results for feeling unhappy. So, what we feel is only happiness. (Re #1,4)
(2) Furthermore, the "flow" state also needs thepre-instinctformed by many times of practical repetition. Pre-instincts together with instincts control over actions without time-consuming consciously thinking or computation in brain. That is the "being in the zone" called by the sportsmen, when their actions are controlled by their unconsciousness only.
Note
Please do not indulge in the "flow" for micro "a step better" for keeping DNA alive on trivia, at the expense of macro important tasks!
Just as Cziksentmihalyi stated "a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it."
Conclusion
The happiness comes from the "flow" state is, obviously, due to the limited ability of our brain.
References:#1. W. Ying,articlesbasee.com, "Happy Life, Instincts, Wisdom, and Human Computer System." #2.ibid, "Valid Happiness, Instinct and Wisdom." #3.ibid, " Competing Instinct-Blindly or Instinct-Wisely?" #4.ibid, "Layman Talks 'The Pursuit of Happiness' by Carlin Flora."
Copyright 2010 all rights reserved.
