Finding Flow: Why Our Experiences Matter (More Than Our Achievements)
What if the richest parts of life aren’t the trophies, but the moments we’re fully alive?
Fresh from the IPPA World Congress, Dr Sue Jackson explains why flow, not achievement alone, creates lasting meaning through the richness of experience it provides
Living a fulfilling life is not just about what we achieve, but about how deeply we experience the moments along the way, and that’s what the psychology of flow is all about.
Last month I had the privilege of attending the 9th International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Brisbane. It was a packed program of thought‑provoking sessions, lively discussions, and a genuinely uplifting atmosphere.
I was grateful to be invited as a speaker, sharing on the concept that has guided my career and continues to inspire me: flow.
Flow’s Origins
Image by Striker Sándor
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
(left, receiving Honorary Membership of the Hungarian Psychological Association)
My presentation centered on how Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “Mike” to those of us fortunate enough to know him, introduced the concept of flow well before the field of positive psychology existed. Later, flow became recognised as one of its foundational experiences.
For me, discovering Mike’s first book, Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, was life‑changing. It set me on a path that began as a postgraduate student, evolved through years of research, and continues today in my work as a practicing psychologist. Across this journey, I’ve seen again and again how the state of flow can transform performance and elevate the quality of life.
Much of my practice work is with high performers, and the optimal psychological state of flow is of great relevance when peak performance is the goal. What happens in this state has been described eloquently by Csikszentmihalyi: focus is fully on task, a sense of control is experienced, along with other qualities like merging of self with the activity, and loss of self‑consciousness.
The Dimensions of Flow
Challenge–skill balance
The task challenges your present skill level.
Deep concentration on the task
Undivided, complete task focus; distractions fade.
Loss of self-consciousness
The “how do I look?” voice goes quiet.
Clear goals
You know moment to moment what to do in the situation.
Sense of control
You feel effective and have no worries of failure.
Time transformation
Time passes differently to usual (speeds up or slows down).
Immediate feedback
You can tell, moment to moment, how you’re going.
Action–awareness merging
You and what you are doing feel like one continuous movement.
Autotelic experience
The doing is rewarding in itself.
Csikszentmihalyi identified nine distinct qualities that define flow, and it’s the presence of all of them together that makes the state so unique compared with other psychological experiences. When these dimensions converge, they create moments powerful enough to be etched in memory as truly special points along life’s journey.
I can still recall flow experiences from more than 40 years ago that remain vivid highlights in my life. This is echoed in the voices of thousands of research participants in Mike and colleagues’ studies – people engaged in everything from everyday tasks to the creative endeavours that led to Nobel Prizes.
Flow experiences stay with us not (only) because of what we accomplished, but because of how extraordinary they felt. Flow is, at its core, an optimal subjective experience.
The Quality of Experience
“It is useful to remember occasionally that life unfolds as a chain of subjective experiences… The quality of these experiences determines whether and to what extent life was worth living.”
What truly matters is the quality of our experiences, not simply the list of achievements we accumulate. This isn’t to say achievements don’t matter – they can enrich our own lives and make a real difference to society. But as Csikszentmihalyi emphasised, the way we ultimately view our lives depends far more on the richness of the experiences we encounter along the way.
From Research to Writing
This belief is what motivated me to write again. My new book, Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, was published 25 years after Flow in Sports, which I co‑authored with Mike. That earlier collaboration was one of the greatest privileges of my professional life.
Working alongside Mike was itself a journey in flow. He encouraged me to grow as a writer, challenging me to clarify ideas, refine arguments, and strengthen each draft. It was the challenge–skill balance in action – and a powerful learning experience I remain deeply grateful for.
With Mike’s passing in 2021, I felt a strong call to continue, in some small way, the legacy he gifted the world through the flow concept. What began as reflections on his work and influence gradually developed into a book that weaves together my decades of research, consulting practice, and interviews with others who have advanced the field.
Why I Wrote Experiencing Flow
This book is for fellow flow‑seekers, and for those who may not yet know they are. It’s for anyone who has ever glimpsed that state where effort falls away, time feels suspended, fear and self‑consciousness vanish, and joy becomes profound.
My hope is that by deepening awareness of these moments, more people will not only perform at their best but also discover greater meaning and enjoyment along the way.
Because, as Mike taught us, it is not just what we achieve that matters – it is how fully we live the moments in between.
Discover Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety
The book that turns the nine dimensions into daily practice, so you don’t just achieve more, you experience life more deeply.
About the Author
Dr Sue Jackson is a psychologist and internationally recognised expert on flow, the optimal psychological state where people perform and feel their best. Her career began with pioneering doctoral research on flow in elite athletes in the early 1990s, and she has continued to shape the field through decades of research, writing, and consulting.
Today, Sue works with high performers across sport, medicine, business, and the arts, helping them cultivate focus, presence, and joy in both performance and daily life. Drawing on mindfulness, CBT, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy alongside the science of flow, she blends practical tools with deep expertise to guide clients toward positive, lasting change.
Her new book, Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, weaves together her research and practice to show how flow can enrich performance and make everyday life more meaningful.
