Goals and meaning by Rhea
Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi is one of the best psychologists in the world and his
masterpiece Flow is extremely frequently quoted- proof is this obscure personal
blog where he is quoted at least fifty times, if you search for his name.
A paradox
might be that I did not even finish this fabulous book, for whenever I encounter
a book that speaks “volumes” I tend to slow down to near 0 my reading speed, or
put it aside altogether, as happened recently with
-
Vernon God Little by the sensational
DBC Pierre, winner of the Man Booker Prize
-
Also on standby I have a number of
various books-
-
Adventures in the Screen Trade, No
Orchids for Ms. Blandish, Lost Horizon
In Flow, Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi writes in a paragraph dedicated to meaning some very interesting
thoughts, observations and suggestions.
-
It does not matter what and where
the meaning comes from
-
The meaning of life is searching for
a meaning
These are
not exact quotes, in fact, they might even be what I thought I read, for they
have provoked a process that could have altered the words of the author completely.
The fact is
that I keep thinking- well, it is not the correct wording, for I happen to come
upon the subject, but I do not have it there all the time- about meaning.
Once in a
while I am uncomfortable to contemplate an apparent lack of meaning, associated
with an absence of “meaningful” goals.
I have
passed fifty, so what can be in store-
-
A marathon run?
-
No, that is very unlikely
-
Applying to be the CEO of some
important or at least medium sized company?
-
Useless to even imagine that
In fact,
the image of Bob Dubois from Continental Drift comes to mind with his breakdown
at the age of only 31- I guess- caused by the revelation that all the life he
has ahead will be the same, wasted and kind of finished before its time.
A lack of
prospect, the certainty that he will never have enough money for almost
anything- repairing the house, windows for the winter, skates for his daughter
and so on- and that no matter how hard he would try, he can’t provide and take
proper care of his family.
From there
on, we seem to get a lesson of inflated expectations and be grateful for what
you have, because the changes he tries prove disastrous.
In Stumbling
Upon Happiness, a classic of psychology, the distinguished Harvard Professor Daniel
Gilbert points out a few myths of happiness that we entertain but are proved
false in practice, like for instance:
-
Moving to California- or in the case
of Bob Dubois to Florida- seems a wonderful change that will increase our wellbeing,
but it turns out to have little to no long term effect on our level of
happiness
-
If only I could get that great job
or I if were to win the lottery prove also to be dreams that once they come
true, they impact the happiness, but only for a period of a few months, after which we return to a “base
level of happiness”
Reading,
dancing, waiting for good signs from Hannah- all these are meaningful to me,
even if it does not sound like saving the world.
Just talking
brings me often in a state of flow.
So I just
need you to call me or give me the information so that we can chat.
Salud y pesetas
