Flowing out of Sheer Joy

“Flow is the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. The experience itself is so enjoyable they will do it, even at great cost, for the sheer sake of it.” ~ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Tonight I went to see the Happy movie, a film by Roko Belic, which explores the concept of happiness by using people around the world as models. Whether it is in India, Denmark, or Namibia, people are happy and lost in the flow of the moment. When I was on vacation recently, I was definitely living in the flow. I greatly appreciated that feeling. I loved living through my camera lens.

The movie is worth watching on many levels. It painfully examines what happens when you do not pursue happiness of the real kind using Japan as an example where workaholics are stressed to the point of death. The Japanese even have a word for it—Karoshi: death from overwork. The film is a bit of a wake up call for viewers I am sure.

The cinematography is stunning with beautiful scenes of the Louisiana Bayou, mountains, oceans, faces, colours, etc. The antidotes are interspersed with scientific evidence of happiness. The film is heart-warming and inspiring, challenging and thought-provoking.

Prior to leaving for the movie, I learned that a woman who goes to my church died yesterday. She had sent me an email while I was still in Bali, saying she would be excited to see me when I returned. I replied saying that maybe during Holy Week I would catch up with her. I never did. I used to stop in from time to time in her office at the university if I had a minute between classes. Her face would brighten when she saw me. I will miss that. She had a child-like simplicity about her in some ways. The film mentioned that random acts of kindness can increase happiness for the one doing the act. I hold on to that act now and bless her journey to the Light.

We only have one life and I choose to live it as fully as I can. I was nudged by the Spirit in the clip where a man who was on a track to financial success opted to work instead at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying in Kolkata. I have often thought that I might like to volunteer there at some point in my life but I have absolutely no illusions as to how difficult that might be. As I listened to this man’s story, I clearly saw the joy in his eyes. How could that not inspire me to move past my fears? Maybe one day the flow will help me move beyond the fear of the great cost to the sheer joy of service.

What about you? When have you experienced flow?

Peace,

Suzanne