Optimal Experience

Flow is based entirely on achieving what the author refers to as "optimal experience." The concept behind optimal experience is that each person has the ability to control his or her consciousness to the degree that each experience will be felt to the highest degree, with each generating a sense of well being.

That is not to say that through this practice one will cease to have problems. Each life is destined to have both ups and downs, and experiencing flow will not change that. However, what will change is the way those problems are dealt with in the context of one's life. One will no longer stress as much over things that are beyond personal control. On the opposite end, enjoyable experiences will increase infinitely and pleasure will rise to a new level.

Many examples of optimal experience are referred to throughout the book. One of...