Flow, Rapt & Grit — All You Need For A Successful Life
3 Books- (1) Flow, (2) Rapt & (3) Grit — Might Change You
Flow, Grit, and Rapt — Book name? Yes and no, we are not talking about a single book here. These are three different books
1) Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
2) Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life by Winifred Gallagher
3) Grit: Why passion and resilience are the secrets to success by Angela Duckworth
Before we go further into what individual book is all about let’s try to define flow, rapt and grit. Then we will observe how these three words are related. If they are related to what kind of association is valid and useful that we can use to achieve success.
Flow:
A state of mind when you act and feel an experience of steady, creative and total involvement. It is a satisfying state of consciousness that can help us discover the true happiness and greatly enjoy the way we live our lives.
Control of consciousness determines the quality of life
― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Rapt:
When you are totally carried away with intense and pleasurable emotions, completely absorbed by what we are observing. This helps us in broadening our horizons and feel what it feels like to be fully alive
Temperamentally anxious people can have a hard time staying motivated, period, because their intense focus on their worries distracts them from their goals
― Winifred Gallagher, Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life
Grit:
It is courage to resolve with passionate persistence. When we fail it is not our genius or talent that will help us — our resilience and what we do become more important than our passions and talents. Getting back to work and achieving goals even if you are not the smartest person on the floor
Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another
― Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Combining Flow, Rapt & Grit
Winifred (Author of Rapt) says that people focus too much on the bad news that media is already amplifying so any positive significant event gets suppressed. We need to do more rewarding tasks rather than responding to interruptions and distractions, and when you distribute your attention to everything that comes in your way in day to day life — that stagnates mind and makes your life dull.
Mihaly ( Author of Flow ) believes that when we act freely for the sake of actions itself rather than for ulterior motives it is then we learn to become more than what we are. Stretching your skills and capabilities, by reaching higher challenges one can become an increasingly extraordinary individual
Angela (Author of Grit) states the importance of endurance and persistence, she believes that while potential and enthusiasm are important but it is action and countless ordinary steps that will take you closer to your goals
To Sum Up
Flow, Rapt and Grit; these words have great meaning. Passion, talent, efforts, and persistence all play their roles to achieve any of our ambitious goals.
You need discipline and persistence — not just talent and passion, says H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”
You need passion but you need to put efforts and you must have a direction, says, Mélanie Berliet
Passion without a true sense of purpose — without direction and a desire to work your ass off — is worthless.
Coming Back to Books ( Flow, Rapt & Grit )
All three books are easy to read. Full of research on human behavior along with scientific evidence. There are hints of author’s personal discoveries that make it more engaging sometimes -but not always so.
