The germ of an idea doesn't make the sculpture that stands up... so the next stage is hard work
Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead
Attention is like energy in that without it no work can be done, and in doing work is dissipated. We create ourselves by how we use this energy. Memories, thoughts and feelings are all shaped by how use it. And it is an energy under control, to do with as we please; hence attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Attention is a vital resource that shapes our experiences and influences how we improve our lives.
In this quote, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi emphasizes the importance of attention as a form of energy that directly affects our ability to create and improve our experiences. He suggests that just as energy is necessary for work, attention is crucial for shaping memories, thoughts, and feelings, ultimately making it one of our most powerful tools for enhancing the quality of our lives. By controlling our attention, we can influence our personal development and the richness of our experiences.
Themes
AttentionEnergyExperiencesControlImprovement
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on mindfulness, one might use this quote to illustrate the power of focused attention.
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To live means to experience-through doing, feeling, thinking. Experience takes place in time, so time is the ultimate scarce resource we have. Over the years, the content of experience will determine the quality of life. Therefore one of the most essential decisions any of us can make is about how one's time is allocated or invested.
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It is as if evolution has built a safety device in our nervous system that allows us to experience full happiness only when we are living at 100%-when we are fully using the physical and mental equipment we have been given.
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Our jobs determine to a large extent what our lives are like. Is what you do for a living making you ill? Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person? Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work? All too often, the answer to such questions is yes. Yet it does not have to be like that. Work can be one of the most joyful, most fulfilling aspects of life. Whether it will be or not depends on the actions we collectively take.
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