The difference between mindfulness and flow

[Metaphysical Me]

Reading the posts on this forum, I get the impression that there are some major misconceptions about mindfulness here.

While FLOW (a term researched and coined by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi) is a definitely a PART of mindfulness, it is important to note that mindfulness does not = flow.

Essential parts of mindfulness are being missed, if it's just being reduced to "experiencing a state of FLOW".

Here's the links to the wikipedia site explaining flow and a link for Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's Book "Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Flow-Ps ... 993&sr=1-3

It would really be more useful to distinguish between "mindfulness" and "flow" in discussions - leading to less misconceptions.

[piedwagtail91]

"According to Csikszentmihalyi, flow is completely focused motivation. It is a single-minded immersion and represents perhaps the ultimate experience in harnessing the emotions in the service of performing and learning. In flow, the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand. To be caught in the ennui of depression or the agitation of anxiety is to be barred from flow. The hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task[2] although flow is also described (below) as a deep focus on nothing but the activity – not even oneself or one's emotions."

you're right about flow not being mindfulness, the way i read the quote nothing in it comes near being mindful. talking about harnessing ,containing and barring feelings/emotions isn't mindfulness, it's not accepting , experiencing or open to what's actually happening in that moment .

[Cheesus]

Could you specify where the misconception is arising?

I use the term 'go with the flow' often to signal that one should just let things arise as they are and to let go of attempts to control them. To stop resisting, as it were. This term is in common use in the English language and has a widely understood meaning.

I don't recognise your terminology and have not been promoting it. I am not sure many on the forum would recognise 'flow' in this context as it appears somewhat esoteric. As a result I do not think it would cause confusion.

[Metaphysical Me]

Flow occurs when a person is aware of his or her actions but is not being aware of his or her awareness.

Mindfulness is viewed not as the achievement of any particular state, but as intentional awareness of what is, plus being aware of awareness.

A very important difference!!

[Metaphysical Me]

Flow is not esoterical - it's researched just as scientifically as mindfulness is. I'm surprised people here have not heard of the scientific concept of "flow". The book "Flow" was a bestseller.

I'm adding a link to an article, that might also help show the difference in a real life situation:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wha ... rumps-flow

[Metaphysical Me]

This is the standard chart used to explain flow:

[Metaphysical Me]

Here's a website that does a pretty good job of explaining the chart shown above.

http://ayearofproductivity.com/how-to-experience-flow-magical-chart/

[Metaphysical Me]

From what people here are posting (things like "just shut your eyes and listen to sounds") they are describing states of flow.

As I posted above, states of flow are part of mindfulness but they do not equal mindfulness!

[Metaphysical Me]

Could you specify where the misconception is arising?

I don't recognise your terminology and have not been promoting it. I am not sure many on the forum would recognise 'flow' in this context as it appears somewhat esoteric. As a result I do not think it would cause confusion.

No, people are not using the word "flow" and confusing it with the word "mindfulness". They are confusing states of flow with states of mindfulness and then describing a state of flow they have experienced and calling that a "state mindfulness". That is where the misconception lies.

[piedwagtail91]

From what people here are posting (things like "just shut your eyes and listen to sounds") they are describing states of flow.

As I posted above, states of flow are part of mindfulness but they do not equal mindfulness!

Closing your eyes and listening to sounds is mindfulness.