Quotes

The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something we make happen. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990, p.3)

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York, NY: Harper and Row.

‘flow’ (is that) wonderfully energising psychological state that Cacioppe (1997) describes as a time when emotions are positive, energized, natural and aligned to the task at hand. “where personal needs, professional interests and organisational goals converge.”(Beatty 2000, p76). Beatty, B. (2000). Teachers leading their own professional growth: Self directed reflection and collaboration and changes in perception of self and work in secondary school teachers. //Journal of In-Service Education, 26// (1), 73-79. Cacioppe, R. (1997) Leadership Moment by Moment. //Leadership and Organisational Development Journal, 18// (7) : 335-45

How, in our accelerated society, Greene is asked, do we convey to students the importance of personal reflection? "I'm very influenced by existentialism and the thought that you can be submerged in the crowd, and if you're submerged in the crowd and have no opportunity to think for yourself, to look through your own eyes, life is dull and flat and boring," she says. "The only way to really awaken to life, awaken to the possibilities, is to be self-aware. "I use the term wide-awakeness," Greene adds. "Without the ability to think about yourself, to reflect on your life, there's really no awareness, no consciousness. Consciousness doesn't come automatically; it comes through being alive, awake, curious, and often furious." []

// Skill. Finesse. Efficiency of movement. There is speed and power. All of his resources are brought to bear in this challenge; he is focused. But he is relaxed, and there is a seeming effortlessness in execution. He is “in the zone.” He gives no thought to his many years of preparation that led to this moment of excellence. He’s not self-consciously examining his actions. His awareness is devoted to the game. He is not distracted by extraneous thoughts. He is absorbed in the here and now. Mind and body are in harmony. Thought and action are one. Creativity, ingenuity, mastery, and strength naturally emerge. He moves with grace; time seems to slow and now we zoom in on his hand moving swiftly through the air with guileless confidence – and then the sound of impact! // // Who knew chess could be so exciting! // // [] //