According to Martin Seligman (2004), psychologists are so focused on helping the people in trouble become less miserable that they are ignoring the normal people become happier. I think this is a problem not just in psychology, but healthcare in general. Providers are so focused on realizing the profits from sickcare that healthy people go by the wayside. Furthermore, wealth is often confused with happiness in spite of evidence to the contrary. Mike Csikszentmihalyi points out studies illustrating that possessions only have a positive correlation to people’s reported levels of happiness to a point “a few thousand dollars above the minimum poverty level” (Csikszentmihalyi, 2004). Beyond that, they must feel like they are contributing in a meaningful way to something larger than themselves.
The emerging field of positive psychology focuses on interventions to help these overlooked mentally healthy people reach a state of eudaimonia in the sense that time stops for them and they enter a state of flow (Seligman, 2004). Flow means to become so completely engaged in an activity that you enter into an alternative reality and your awareness of your existence is temporarily suspended (Csikszentmihalyi, 2004). The mindfulness practices of Eastern religions have understood the power of flow for millennia, so it is sort of surprising that Western science is just now catching up.
Seligman (2004) ties the concept of flow to both health and economic productivity, which can also be extended to educational practices. In a corporation, or school, productivity is a function of positive emotion, engagement, and meaning. Likewise, health is a function of positive engagement, pleasure, and a meaningful life. To be healthy, happy, and productive, people must be engaged in something meaningful and positive. Employees and students who are engaged in challenging yet meaningful activities perform better. This requires that a certain level of stress be experienced. According to James Loehr, an expert on peak performance: “Stress is not the enemy in our lives. Paradoxically, it is the key to growth” (Hallowell, 2011).
Edward Hallowell (2011) talks about the disease of disconnection so pervasive in today’s increasingly impersonal world. Tools meant to keep us connected like email have come at the cost of forming meaningful interpersonal relationships. “Never worry alone”, he says (Hallowell, 2011). Employees with personal connections with supervisors and coworkers are happier, more productive, and have better attendance. He also ties the importance of flow to productivity. All three men are of the opinion that personal connections, imaginative engagement, and getting so caught up in something meaningful that you lose self-consciousness are the keys to eudaimonia and optimal performance. Focusing on your interests and strengths is vital to attaining a state of flow and increasing your mental and physical well-being.
References
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2004). Flow, the secret to happiness. TED. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow/transcript?language=en
Hallowell, E. M. (2011). Shine: Using brain science to get the best from your people. Harvard Business Review Press.
Seligman, M. (2004). The new era of positive psychology. TED. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology
