flow - whatever that is!

[myopinion]

Reading all these post and floating around the web - it is nice to see that people find their "flow" in life - that thing that produces happiness - like flying, writing, traveling, etc. You all seem to have opinions on soulmates and finding that special person or the essence of this special individual if indeed one does exist - it seems like expecting a great deal from one person to be "all" things for another - soulmate or whatever - For those of you who have found this "flow" in your life - were you looking for it or did it just happen, did you know right away that you found it, if you don't have it are you aware of it... Is it in another person or inside yourself.  Isn't is supposed to be inside each one of us.
I have read the book by Mihaly  Csikszenthmihalyi - Flow - wondering about other views on this subject...
So if you found it  please share your thoughts - if your still looking share that as well.

[LL]

it is nice to see that people find their "flow" in life - that thing that produces happiness - like flying, writing, traveling, etc

Writing, traveling, mountain climbing, reading, wrenching on my truck, chemistry, exercising, smiling...all of these things and many more in my life are happiness expressed. These things do not "produce" happiness in my life, they are a product of it. Being happy, in my opinion, comes from within and flows outward. Some look for things "outside" that will make them happy...and those things do, but it is a temporary "fix" so to speak. Soon an individual will be looking for something that provides more happiness after the latter feeling has worn off, and on and on it goes...and if the person finds a relationship that makes them euphoric and happy, they may say:"We are soulmates, we must be...you make me so happy"          But this is just another "fix" and although it may last longer than most "fixes" it will eventually fade if one or the other of these individuals is made to be the cause of the others happiness.

it seems like expecting a great deal from one person to be "all" things for another

Indeed. It is the greatest of all expectations and like any expectation it will be un-met in one way or another and cause un-happiness or suffering. To be something FOR another is to relinquish them from having to be it. Sooner or later a clash is inevitable, whether it be the person being something for another getting tired of being that thing or the other person choosing to be that "thing" now. Hope that makes sense

Living with the understandings of mine that I've just written here has come from a past of  "looking", "searching", "seeking" for that eternal happiness provider...it does not exist anywhere outside of myself. I am my eternal happiness provider! To just BE happy, loving, joyful and require nothing in return for it, well, I must tell you, it is an incredible feeling that multiplies upon itself over and over. Dissappointments are few and far between when there are no expectations nor requirements. My soulmates?, well, they're everywhere (even looking at a screen halfway around the world) and I love each and every one of them equally.        LL      

Haven't read the book...no comment on that      

[myopinion]

You know LL , you seem to have a very good outlook. Maybe you can shed a little insight on a subject I am having a hard time with - nothing to do with Bach - but what is the most effective way to learn algebra.  I am having a hard time digesting so much information in a short period of time - any suggestions - seeing that you have knowledge of chemistry  (which sound difficult ).  I am open to suggestions.

[LL]

Myopinion,
The quote below was from a while back and may help you out. Its hard for me to give you advice without knowing where you're at...but here's some general stuff. Algebra builds upon itself as you progress so basics from the beginning are very important if you desire to understand it fully(and get good grades ;D). Digesting the information in a short period of time requires practicing on your part(unless you're a Shimoda). If you're assigned 10 problems to do....do 20 or as many as necessary until you understand why you are doing it in the first place(maybe only 1 problem if you know why you're doing it). Ask for "real world" examples of why you would need to know what you're learning. Like "FOIL", if thats what its called in your class(first,outside,inside,last ...for multiplying polynomials)...What do I need to know that for? Getting an example of what you might use this for may help you to understand it better and not have to worry about "keeping up" because if you understand what it is used for then that is what you do...use it. And just like learning to use any tool, if you know what it does and how it works then it makes using it natural rather than a memorized necessity.
By all means have fun with it(it can be fun) and you may begin to like it, even love it and if that happens then the little universe that we now inhabit will have no choice but to reveal it to you....Hope this helps   LL

The way that I understand this "choosing" is: There is  collective choice and there is individual choice. Now, choosing and remembering, as I understand them, are linked. For example: If I choose to understand, lets say chemistry.(most people shy away from the subject) The collective view/choice is that it is difficult and this may or may not influence my individual view/choice. If I allow my self to be influenced by the collective choice(that it is difficult) then so it shall be and I will remember how difficult it is rather than remembering chemistry itself. If, on the other hand, I allow no influence from the collective and continue my individual choice to understand it ie remember it, then I will. All choices and the remeberances attached to them exist at any given moment, all we need do is decide what it is that we wish to experience or create. Sounds easy enough right? Well when one considers all of the influences that exist from the collective...maybe not so easy. Your choice-rememberance must be clear and from the very heart of your being in order to avoid being influenced by the collective. Otherwise it may become distorted and unrecognizable as the original choice.  
I used chemistry as an example because this is where my initiation with choice-rememberance arose. I took a nice little chemistry course as a required course for something else that I was pursuing at the time. In high school I hated chemistry(the collective at the time fully influenced me)and failed it miserably. When I took it in college though, I took it step by step and after 3 days was fully in love with it, changed my major, and changed the course of my life. I chose to remember chemistry, I did not choose to remember how "difficult" it was. It remains the easiest and most invigorating experience that I've encountered. What I also came to know by this experience is that individual choice-rememberance can influence the collective as well. I was living out my choice to the fullest, absorbing chemistry like a sponge and this was not going un-noticed. Others began to get excited about it as well and began to see that it was not as difficult as they had been led to believe. I tutored many people in chemistry and the class, overall, did very well. Most were excited, not depressed, when a final exam was passed out. It was a very rewarding experience.  

[myopinion]

You truly are an amazing person.  Thanks.

[LL]

Amazing?  Dont know about that. I just call 'em as I see 'em and have fun doing it ;D ;D     Glad I could help.

[myopinion]

Listen - 2L - Tonight was the first night I actually laughed in class - and it was fun - at least for today - this mind thing is - well, I learning it just not as fast - hey - it's been ages since I learned math.  You reached out and touched. If I make it great - if not I still got something out of it.  
Later -

[LL]

Isn't it fun to laugh?! In class!!??  ;D ;D It makes it so much more enjoyable! When you're having fun you tend to remember the experience more than if its humdrum and boring.

[ray]

when i get the flow, i forget i got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is so much fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
I love the ups and downs
I guess even they are our choices...
what do you think??/