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timbgray t1_j7ftapw wrote

I agree, but there are certain nuances to flow, not all flows are equally beneficial. At one extreme you have a junkie in a flow state as they very single mindedly focus on the search for their next fix. Less counter productive than an addiction to drugs is an addiction to the flow state provided by video games.

I’d also suggest a subtle distinction between flow and Wu Wei. Wu Wei is more about effortless action, while flow is more about a continuous stream of focussed attention, but if not brother and sister they are first cousins.

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Caring_Cactus t1_j7g4hq7 wrote

Would you say in both instances when a person is able experience flow often in their life they have autotelic personality traits?

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timbgray t1_j7g6vvg wrote

I’d say that flow is autotelic, but I’m not sure it would be considered a personality trait.

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sqt246 t1_j7gr6kw wrote

First I’ve heard of wu Wei but effortless mastery is a cornerstone of Taoism

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tedua11 t1_j7hv312 wrote

Yes, I can recommend listening to Alan Watts on the topic.

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