What I’ve been reading:
"Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
I suppose most of you are familiar with the term "flow" or "being in the flow state." The term "flow" was coined by a psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and it describes a state of complete absorption and focused attention in an activity. It is what we also call "being in the zone."
The original book that Csikszentmihalyi wrote outlining his theory of flow is "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience." It is a more theoretical and academic exploration of the concept.
"Finding Flow" was published 7 years later (1997), and it was written as a more accessible and more general population-friendly book. It is essentially a practical guide intended to help readers achieve the flow state in their everyday lives.
Besides the practical advice Csikszentmihalyi gives, what I especially appreciate is the emphasis he puts on finding meaning and purpose in one’s activities. So far, this is an engaging and easy read.
What I’ve been watching:
Last week, I jumped on the hype train and watched a couple of episodes of Netflix’s "Physical: 100."
For those not familiar with it, "Physical: 100" is a South Korean reality show where 100 athletes from different backgrounds compete in various physical challenges to determine who is the fittest one of them.
As someone who is passionate about challenging his body, I was curious to see the competitors and how they performed in different challenges. And maybe spend some time thinking about how I would do against them; who knows?
My main takeaway from the show is this: when producers gathered to create the show and select the competitors, I guess their idea was, "Let’s create a show with people who are so ridiculously fit that the viewers will either be motivated to start training or they will develop body dysmorphia."
Seriously, every single contestant is a freak of nature in their own way. If you are someone who doesn’t get motivated when they see a physically fit person but just feels insecure about their own body, don’t watch this show.
All in all, I wouldn’t call it a pure waste of time like most shows out there. But bear in mind I am talking from the perspective of a fitness enthusiast who uses people fitter than him as motivation to give 101% in my next workout instead of 98%.
What I’ve been thinking about:
I recently received a message from one of my instagram followers. It wasn’t easy to read, let alone answer. But I hope that the answer I provided might be helpful to someone else as well.
I won’t share their message in its entirety out of respect for their privacy. But the essence of the message was "I feel like I am destined never to be happy. Do you think there are people like that? Do you believe there are people who can never achieve happiness?"
First, it’s important to note that this person showed me with their message that they didn’t view happiness as the ultimate goal or a permanent state. So this wasn’t someone who held the belief that they were supposed to find or reach happiness and stay happy forever. They wondered if they would ever have a moment of happiness in their life again.
This is the most that I can say to them and to you:
I can’t tell you that everything will work out and turn out fine in your life. I cannot promise you a happy ending, whatever that might mean.
What I can promise you and what I believe with my whole being is that, at the moment when you are struggling, you cannot possibly imagine how big of an internal transformation you can experience. Your attitude towards life can change overnight even when your external circumstances haven’t changed at all. So no, I absolutely don’t believe that there are people who can never achieve happiness, fulfillment, or any positive feeling or state that we all strive for.
Thank you for reading.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
If you are interested in my book recommendations list, you can download it here for free.
You can also check out my ebooks, “The Lost Art of Reading,” and “The Gold Pill.”
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