382 Quotes by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

We can transform reality to the extent that we influence what happens in consciousness and thus free ourselves from the threats and blandishments of the outside world.

Happiness is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated , and defended privately by each person.

Problems are solved only when we devote a great deal of attention to them and in a creative way...to have a good life, it is not enough to remove what is wrong with it. We also need a positive goal, otherwise why keep going? Creativity is one answer to that question - It provides one of the most exciting models for living.

Happiness is not something that happens ... It does not depend on outside events, but, rather, on how we interpret them.

We cannot deny the facts of nature, but we should certainly try to improve on them.

Repression is not the way to virtue. When people restrain themselves out of fear, their lives are by necessity diminished. Only through freely chosen discipline can life be enjoyed and still kept within the bounds of reason.

I have a naive trust in the universe - that at some level it all makes sense, and we can get glimpses of that sense if we try.

Whatever the dictates of fashion, it seems that those who take the trouble to gain mastery over what happens in consciousness do lead a happier life.

Flow is the process of achieving happiness through control over one's inner life. The optimal state of inner experience is order in consciousness. This happens when we focus our attention (psychic energy) on realistic goals and when our skills match the challenges we face.