This is part of a series on non-fiction books that have had a big effect on the way I think, live, or teach. I’ll add links to the other books as I write about them, but here’s the rest of my list, for now. Mindset by Carol Dweck Getting Things Done by David Allen Crucial Conversations and Influencer by the VitalSmarts team Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter The Talent Code The Speed of Trust by Steven M.R. Covey The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery by Robert Greene Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson Honorable Mentions: The Dip by Seth Godin, Rule One Investing by Phil Town, Power by Jeffrey Pfeffer, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. I had heard about Flow for years, and even bought a copy several years ago. I never read it because it seemed like a really dense and scientific book, probably due to the difficulty of his last name. People with names like Csikszentmihalyi write doctoral dissertations with unnecessarily intellectual words and confusing sentences that are intended to show off their knowledge. They don’t actually write for real people. But so many people had recommended it—people whom I respect—that when I passed “Finding Flow” in the library (and noticed that it was much shorter!), I decided to give it a read. I was so taken by the clarity of writing and the profound ideas within, that after I finished it, it was inevitable that I’d take on the longer “Flow”. Flow is about focusing on creating better quality of life. Csikszentmihalyi’s research shows that a lot of the things we think make us happy, don’t. He goes into a wonderful level of detail about work, learning, home life, relationships, and hobbies to tell us how we can make our lives better. It’s never preachy, and he recognizes the importance of personal taste. Here’s the cliff notes takeaway: The activities that give us the highest short- and long-term satisfaction are called “Flow” activities. They 1) are challenging activities that require skill; 2) merge activity and awareness; 3) have clear goals and regular feedback; 4) require concentration; 5) give a sense of control in constantly changing situations (think of surfing). Using that model and comparing with the plethora of examples he gives, I was able to make unenjoyable activities more enjoyable, such as cleaning and chores, and to improve areas of my life that were already enjoyable, such as teaching, practicing, writing, and relationships. It also helped me to realize why I take on so many different projects—a constant struggle that added stress to my life. Now I have a way to look at an activity that might be fun and be honest about whether I will have the time to devote to it to make it an honest flow activity. An unexpected takeaway is the insight it has given me into my choices with time and money. The mental accounting has become much clearer, if not always easier. I’ve always struggled between two realities: Money spent well gives me a higher quality of life now and memories for later. Money saved will give me greater freedom to pursue a higher quality of life later. That’s still true, but through a “Flow” filter, I have more information about how spending/saving will affect my future. For example, my upcoming Pacific Crest Trail hike is a significant investment of money. If I saved that money, I could have the same experience later. I would also have the interest I earned from saving that money. I’d also have more experience backpacking, so it might make for a more enjoyable trip when I finally take it. On the other hand, if I spend that money now, I’ll have a flow experience now. I’ll have the memories for the rest of my life. I’ll become a better backpacker through the total immersion, and I’ll be able to carry that knowledge with me to future backpacking trips, which will make them more enjoyable for me. I’ll also have months of reflection, which means I’ll know myself better, which will lead to better choices throughout my life. To me, the better choice between money and life experience is always life experience. The problem is, most people have bad judgment when it comes to the potential quality of a life experience. Flow sets out a really clear model that allows you to make better judgments about what will truly make you happy. What non-fiction has changed the way you think or live?
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Author
Nick is a teacher, writer, and amateur adventurer. Archives
June 2020
Categories |