Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Quotes

Flow is an optimal state in which you feel totally engaged in an activity...In a state of flow, you're neither bored nor anxious, and you don't question your own adequacy. Hours pass without your noticing.

Actually the adrenaline of the game will probably help me out a little bit to regain command and concentration about the things that I have to do.

I learned early in sports that to be effective - for a player to play the best he can play - is a matter of concentration and being unaware of distractions, positive or negative.

I love to prepare if it's something that requires training. But I don't like to prepare the psychology too much.

Your ability to use the principle of autosuggestion will depend, very largely, upon your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning obsession.

I'm supposed to relax and concentrate on the image of myself out there skating my race.

If I want to get work done, that's usually about 3 in the morning.

When I get on a course that's not very good, that's not tough, I fall asleep. Mentally I must be lazy, like a little kid, but I always seem to do well when there's a tough situation.

I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon as I see the targets, I tune them out.

You don't want to line up on the blocks and know you have not done everything you possibly can.

I was reading an article in the 'New York Times;' it talked about being in the zone, and being in the zone you're so focused that time ceases to exist. It's when you think, 'Oh, I've been doing this for five hours and didn't even know it.' It's the difference between hard work and going, '12 o'clock, not moving.'

I think the most important thing I work on is just my mental approach to every day, my mental approach to the game. How to come in each and every day focused, doing what I want to do, I think that's just the biggest issue.

I always found when I was most focused, that's when I did the best financially.

During the playoffs, I tone down the Internet usage.

You have to get yourself right for the Worlds. If you can't get yourself right for that you shouldn't be playing.

Once you start going out putting expectation levels on yourself, you lose the concept of trying to win the game.

There's so many things running through your mind. If you can formulate a game plan that works for you and allows you to block outside distractions and get to what matters, that's how the talent is able to come out.

Some players need pressure to get the best out of themselves.

Whether you're an athlete or just someone aspiring to be at the top of your game - in the workplace, gym or even at home - it's important to have that special something that sets you apart and helps you stay focused.

For some reason, I can really tune in in the majors, and I have no idea why. They really get my attention.

When an archer is shooting for nothing, he has all his skill. If he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous. If he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind or sees two targets - He is out of his mind! His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him. He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting- And the need to win drains him of power.

An interesting piece of work, freely chosen, which has the virtue of inducing concentration rather than fatigue, adds to the child's energies and mental capacities, and leads him to self-mastery.

Good performance is about the capacity to focus and concentrate.

Music can be useful during training to help get you psyched, and I still listen to music on easy climbs or in the gym. But during cutting-edge solos or really hard climbs, I unplug. There shouldn't be a need for extra motivation on big days, be it music or anything else. It should come from within.

There are always distractions, if you allow them.