sâmbătă, 28 noiembrie 2015

Goals and meaning by Rhea

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

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