"Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience"

I was first introduced to the ideas of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi last year while reading a magazine article on happiness. I finally read his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Flow "is the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter." The process itself provides enjoyment. Csikszentmihalyi developed a theory on the optimal experience based on the concept of flow. He argues that there are several requirements needed to create an optimal experience: it must be challenging and require skill, involve a great deal of focus, provide clear goals and feedback, initiate a loss of self-consciousness, and transform time.

Csikzsentmihalyi goes on to explain that since the optimal experience depends on the capacity to control what occurs in our consciousness we all have the ability to achieve flow and therefore create happiness at anytime. "Attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience" because it determines what appears in our consciousness. He labels attention psychic energy and explains that "we create ourselves by how we invest this energy." Any information that enters our consciousness will be interpreted and evaluated. If it conflicts with our intentions it will create psychic entropy or disorder in our consciousness - i.e: fear, anxiety, anger, or jealousy. If it reinforces our aims order is maintained and psychic energy is not wasted because there is "no threat for the self to defend against."

In his research on the conditions of flow, Csikszentmihalyi found that every flow experience "provided a sense of discovery...and pushed the person to higher levels of performance. It transformed the self by making it more complex." This growth of the self is the key to flow. The following diagram demonstrates this process. When you learn a new sport or activity you will engage in flow because the challenge matches your novice skill level (A1). If you keep practicing and introduce new challenges you will maintain flow (A4). However when we aren't challenged we become bored (A2) and when we don't practice to develop skills new challenges will create anxiety (A3). Notice that A1 and A4 are both flow, yet are quite different because A4 is a more complex experience as it involves greater challenges and skills.

We can create flow in any experience in any aspect of our lives. There are literally thousands of opportunities to expand ourselves physically, mentally, at work, with family or friends, and when we are alone. The formula for flow is constant. Any experience can be transformed at will because it is the result of our channeled attention. The irony is that despite the astounding number of opportunities within our reach, "most of us go on being bored and vaguely frustrated." New challenges are avoided and inner discipline suffers.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience is well written and researched by Csikszentmihalyi and his staff. The concept of flow is relatively simple but can be applied to every facet of our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed Flow. As a result, I highly recommended that you read this book. I look forward to reading more books by Csikszentmihalyi.

"Amnesty International After 50 Years: Looking Back and Looking Forward"

On March 4th, nearly a hundred people came out to hear Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neve, discuss the past and future of the movement. Neve began in 1961 where Peter Benenson sat on a bench in London reading that two Portuguese citizens had been jailed for giving a toast to freedom. Beyond rage, Benenson decided that there must be a way to bring our voices together and channel our anger to make a difference. This idea began as a short appeal but soon launched into a worldwide movement.

"Do we celebrate this anniversary?" asked Neve. When we look at all that has gone wrong how can we celebrate? From ethnic cleansing in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, militant dictatorship in Chile, Apartheid in South Africa, and the effects of the Cold War it clearly has been a long, hard half century of human rights suffering.

In the fiftieth anniversary there is a lot to to hang our heads in shame and grieve. But there is also a great deal to celebrate. Human rights has come a long way since Benenson's time:

• There is "an impressive machinery of human rights instruments" - global webs of treaties, codes, tribunals, and conventions in place to protect individuals and groups.
  
• Three of the past five United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights have been women.
  
• The establishment of the International Criminal Court in 2002
  
• Dozens of African countries have been freed from colonial rule and the end of Apartheid in South Africa.
  
• Democratization of former dictatorial countries - Chile, Philippines, Portugal...
  
• An estimated 44,000 individuals have been freed from prison and/or torture worldwide.
  

Nonetheless, Neve argued that the "most glorious human rights achievement" in the last fifty years has been the mobilization of millions of people lobbying, organizing, and fighting for the rights of all. There are currently 2.8 - 3 million Amnesty members globally.

Neve then delved into Canada's role in all of this. Canada has an enviable human rights record which is a source of our pride. Our nation has shown tremendous leadership from John Humphrey who drafted the UN Declaration on Human Rights, to Louise Arbour a former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, to Lester B. Pearson who won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for arranging the UN Emergency Force to settle the Suez Canal Crisis.

Recently, however, Canada has been coming up short in several areas. The failure to protect Omar Khadr, women's rights, Aboriginal rights (see Shameful Chapter in Canadian History - September 2009), our refusal to recognize water as a human right, the mishandling of Afghan prisoners, Canada's pro-Israel approach to the crisis in Egypt, and the inadequancy of regulating the conduct of Canadian businesses abroad.

So today we stand at a crossroads in a world much better and much different that Benenson's. We are often reminded that human rights are fragile and "it is crucial that we stand ready to act." There are still many issues that require our energy and attention. Just remember "Your voice matters."

Fauna of Saskatchewan 3

Cabbage White Butterfly
Pieris rapae


Location: Wascana March








Interesting facts:

- Among the first butterfly to appear in the spring.
- White butterflies are not eaten by predators because of their bad taste.
- White butterflies prefer mustards as their food plants. They find plants in the mustard family with the help of chemicals and colours.
- These butterflies bask in the sun in a unique position. They orient their wings toward the sun at an angle so that rays are reflected off their white wings and onto their darker bodies.

More Montessori Stories

Last year I promised more funny stories about daily life in a Montessori classroom. Here are a few of my favourites so far this year:

Only a few days into the school year Casra (3.5), a new student in our class, offered Ella (4) a tissue as she came into the classroom crying.

On Finn's 3rd birthday in October he handed out his birthday cupcakes and ask in his quiet, raspy little voice, "Would you like a cupcake?" to each child, as per the birthday routine.

Riana (4) loves to be the first to eat snack. She will come up to the teachers and ask if snack is ready yet. Occasionally the teachers would give her a hard time saying, "No" or "No snack today" to which she would reply "You 'a trickin' me!" with her Romanian accent.

One morning Issy (5) was discussing with Winston (4.5) who he worked with in class. When Issy mentioned that he worked with Daniel (3.5) Winston abruptly said "But that was an accident!" Further inquiry revealed what he really meant - that he had helped clean up a puzzle map Daniel had dropped.

After Agribition Jaxon (5) was excited because he had participated in the sheep riding event. When I asked him how long he stayed on for he answered, "Until I fell off."

One day in the fall I was helping students with a craft at a table near the snack area. The teacher had made snack which included a plate full of cookies of which the children were to eat only one. A few minutes later the teacher came back to find half the cookies gone. She suspected Ava (3) the youngest and newest child in the class. However, Ella (4) added her two cents, "Well Mr. Nathan was near the snack table too," insinuating I had eaten the cookies.

A few other memorable moments are Sameer (3.5) knocking over the fish tank, Aurora's (4.5) random hugs, Jaxon labelling all his work "Jaxon 5" (as he had just turned 5 in November), and CJ (3.5) singing and counting at various times throughout the day.

New Year's Resolutions 2011

Last year I worked out three times a week, paid off half my student loan, travelled to Saskatoon, Duck Mountain, Calgary, posted 28 blogs, wrote 38 letters for Amnesty, and bought a newer car. (see New Year's Resolutions - January 2010)

Owing to this success I have decided to post my goals for the New Year:

Spend less time with technology - less TV and computer time

Involve myself in creative hobbies such as drawing, painting,

photography, cooking, and yoga.

Eat healthier

Pay off my student loan

Spend more time outside

Incorporate more cardio activity - walking, badminton,

biking, catch, kayaking

Christmas Shopping

When I buy Christmas presents I keep the following quotation in mind: "Approach gift shopping as an opportunity to honour the people you really love." I enjoy attempting to buy the perfect gift for the people on my list. The item may or may not be on their Christmas list but it is something I know that they will love it. This is the challenge of my holiday shopping.

As we get older Christmas becomes less about getting and more about giving. I count down to the big day, but this is for the excitement of seeing others open my gifts to them. I watch anxiously as they unwrap their gifts to see if I was correct in my gift selection. I hope I am accurate this year!

Merry Christmas!!

Human Rights Day - Part 2

In just fifteen minutes I can save a life, release a prisoner of conscience, or reverse a government policy. This is the power of letter writing. I will validate this by providing some information on the letters I have written this past year.

I wrote ten letters during the 2009 Write-a-thon and four resulted in action:

In Nepal, workers and clients at the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre were encountering abuse and violence for their work in supporting women victims of violence. They now have an improved relationship with police and better police response as a result of pressure from last year’s Write-a-thon.

In Greece, the Minister of Citizen Protection of the Hellenic Republic promised a swift, impartial investigation into the assault on Konstantina Kouneva, a trade union secretary.

In the Ukraine, Belarusian opposition activist, Igor Koktysh was released and sent home after being detained for two and a half years.

Kareem Amer was released from prison in Egypt just weeks ago. He had been jailed for criticizing the president’s religious views on his blog.

Of the 28 letters I wrote this year three resulted in action: the release of Abdollah Sadoughi in Iran, the release of six doctors in Sudan, and President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso committing to lifting all financial barriers to emergency obstetric care and access to family planning, as part of a strategy to fight maternal mortality in the country. In addition, Yusak Pakage was released from prison in Indonesia, a case from the 2005 Write-a-thon.

This represents only the cases I have undertaken. Dozens of others prisoners have been released this year, countries have taken steps toward abolition of the death penalty, and governments have improved human rights because of the pressure created by thousands of other AI members worldwide.

My success rate usually averages around 15%. However, during Write-a-thons this increases to 30 or even 40 percent. The power of the pen!!

Please take time to write a letter. Cases and letter writing tips can be found here.