“When externally forced to repress, life is by necessity diminished. Only through freely chosen discipline can life be enjoyed” - Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi
Perspective
One of the most fascinating factors in the enjoyment of life is perspective. Some are able to thrive and find enjoyment working through fields of barley, while others dream of moving to the city for their big break. What seems to matter the most, however, is not what we choose; It matters that we make a choice at all.
For the young woman who gave his all in entrance exams to make it into medical school, this achievement provides satisfaction and brings her to the next chapter of actualizing her dream. For the young man who has been pushed by his parents since birth to become a doctor, this is merely a formality that brings him closer to actualizing their dream.
Of these two scenarios, who incurs more stress as they prepare for these exams? Who derives greater joy from the achievements? And perhaps more importantly: who performs better?
Well, If flow theory is anything to go by, the young lady who chose of her free accord to become a doctor is in a much better position on all accounts.
Autonomy: Choosing your own path
Autonomy is one of the intrinsic motivators, and a prerequisite for flow state. Hobbies like sport or playing an instrument offer similar complexity to the work done in the accounting firm, but often it is only the former that produces flow. Hobbies are more conducive to flow than work activities, and autonomy plays a large role in this.
We work so we can get paid, and yearn for the free time where we won't have to work. According to flow theory, we are often happiest and most fulfilled when we are stretching our abilities to the limit, fulfilled when we are using our skills to meet difficult challenges. While work is the time when we get to test these skills the most, it is also these times when people most feel like being somewhere else, doing something else.
When we are externally motivated, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, even if it is something that could be potentially enjoyable. If we feel that we are being compelled to do it, that something outside of ourselves is making the decisions for us, our enjoyment radically drops. Conversely, even if we are doing something that may not be as enjoyable on paper, having chosen to have done it intrinsically of our own free-will, we get much greater satisfaction.
How to find autonomy anywhere
Fortunately, the flow model gives guidance for finding intrinsic motivation even in environments where we are externally motivated.
A factory worker who puts in the bare minimum to get a paycheck does so begrudgingly, and would not be there if he was not getting paid, and avoids extra work in places where it is not necessary. On the other hand, the worker who finds systems to do his job more efficiently has now made a game of his own accord. They may receive the same paycheck at the end of the week, and they may even go drinking together afterward, but the two have a far different relationship to the work. While neither would be there if they weren’t getting paid, the second worker will likely find more meaning and enjoyment in the process, which will have several knock-on benefits to his career, while the first remains stagnant and avoids expending any more energy than he needs to.
Feedback, goals and variable challenges are paramount conditions to flow. Virtually all professions can provide them, with varying degrees of clarity. It is up to the individual, however, to seek out these challenges that put their skills to the test. It is in this manner that autonomy will always set the stage for flow.
When we choose to improve our skills in guitar, or how fast we can run, it’s our choice to improve those skills and rising to challenges necessary for growth. If we decided of our own accord, perhaps we could find similar growth in our work too, and maybe the world would be better for it :)
Thank you if you’ve read this far, it means a lot.
And I hope you have yourself a damn good one :D