Sometimes it might feel like one is starving for love, not sensual pleasure, but a pleasure that arising from knowing someone cares about you, your happiness, and is excited to see you. All day long, we are bombarded by negativity, a lot of people are really petty, then some of us come home to an empty house, wake up, repeat and do it all over again. However, love, in general, arises from the pleasure which all men and women naturally take in whatever they judge or perceive to be good and perfect. #RyanPhillippe 1 of 13

When I am feeling blue in the morning, and cannot escape from the thoughts of yesterday, I like to start my day off right by listening to a happy song, or reading something nice. I am nothing but a bundle of nerves dressed up to look like a man. It is foolish to demand complete success of those we want to love; we should rejoice when they rise for a moment above themselves and sympathize with them when they fall. #RyanPhillippe 2 of 13

We seldom find in men a strong desire of obtaining anything which depends on human power who have not been able to obtain it. It is the full involvement of flow, rather than happiness, that makes for excellence in life. When we are in flow, we are not necessarily happy, because to experience happiness we must focus on our inner states, and that would take away attention from the task at hand. So we are focused on our goal. #RyanPhillippe 3 of 13

There are many a way to win in this World, but none of them is worth much without good hard work back of it. If a rock climber takes time out to feel happy while negotiating a difficult move, he might fall to the bottom of the mountain. The neuro surgeon cannot afford to feel happy during a demanding operation, or a musician while playing a challenging score. #RyanPhillippe 4 of 13

Success is projects is everything. Only after the task is completed do we have the leisure to look back on what has happened, and then we are flooded with gratitude for the excellence of that experience—then, in retrospect, we are happy. However, one can be happy without experiencing flow. Agreeable circumstances, arising in a disagreeable prospect, convey the greatest happiness that can be imagined. #RyanPhillippe 5 of 13

We can be happy experiencing the passive pleasure of a rested body, a warm Sunshine, the contentment of a serene relationship. These are also moments to treasure, but this kind of happiness is very vulnerable and dependent on favourable external circumstances. That happiness that follows flow is of our own making, and it leads to increasing complexity and growth in consciousness. #RyanPhillippe 6 of 13

We have yet to learn again the forgotten art of gaiety. Flow leads to personal growth. Suppose an individual is in the stage of arousal. This is not a bad condition to be in; in arousal an individual feels mentally focused, active, and involved—but not very strong, cheerful, or in control. How can one return to the more enjoyable flow state? #RyanPhillippe 7 of 13

Life is full of cares and anxieties; man has occasion for, and a right to make use of, many expedients to make it pass on with tolerable ease. The way to get back to your flow is by learning new skills. When an individual feels in control, this is a beneficial state of experience, where one feels happy, strong, satisfied. However, one tends to lack concentration, involvement, and a feeling that what one does is so important. #RyanPhillippe 8 of 13

So how does one get back to flow? By increasing challenges. Thus arousal and control are very important states for learning. The other conditions are less favourable. When a person is anxious or worried, for instance, the step to flow often seems too far, and one retreats to a less challenging situation instead of trying to cope. If a man live in the World, he must live like the World. #RyanPhillippe 9 of 13

Therefore, the flow experience acts as a magnet for learning—that is, for developing new levels of challenges and skills, in an ideal situation, an individual would be constantly growing while enjoying whatever he or she does. Alas, we know this is not the case. Usually we feel too bored and apathetic to move into the flow zone, so we prefer to fill out mind with readymade, prepackaged stimulation from Netflix or off the video shelf or some other kind of professional entertainment. #RyanPhillippe 10 of 13

Or sometimes we feel too overwhelmed to imagine we could develop the appropriate skills, so we prefer to descend into the apathy engendered by artificial relaxants like drugs or alcohol. It takes energy to achieve optimal experiences, and all too often we are unable, or unwilling, to put out the initial effort. Life is not governed by will or intention, but our actions.  #RyanPhillippe 11 of 13

Flow is generally reported when an individual is doing his or her favourite activity—gardening, listening to music, having a pleasant conversation, cooking a great meal. It also occurs when driving, and surprisingly often at work. However, very rarely do people report experiencing flows in passive leisure activities, such as watching television or relaxing. #RyanPhillippe 12 of 13

Yet, because almost any activity can produce flow provided the relevant elements are present, it is possible to improve the quality of life by making sure that clear goals, immediate feedback, skills balanced to action opportunities, and the remaining conditions of flow are as much as possible a constant part of everyday life. #RyanPhillippe 13 of 13