GETTING INTO THE FLOW

��Ƶ Staff — Sat, 21 May 2022 18:40:57 +0000

With March 20^th marking the International Day of Happiness, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012¹, it’s time to take a step back and put some thought into what makes us happy. But what is happiness? As Howard Mumford Jones, a renowned American intellectual historian, literary critic, poet, and professor at Harvard University, once said, “Happiness… belongs to that category of words, the meaning of which everybody knows, but the definition of which nobody can give.”² Needless to say, happiness can be tricky to define, let alone strive for!

At ��Ƶ, we are committed to the whole child, inspiring students to grow and find balance among all five aspects of self: intellectual, social, spiritual, physical, and emotional. We understand that emotional wellbeing is just as important as intellectual growth, and that positive emotions actually facilitate openness and drive curiosity and exploration. In fact, studies³ find that emotions significantly influence our learning strategies, motivation, cognitive resources, and academic achievement.

GETTING IN THE “FLOW” OF THINGS

Research has documented that happiness is best obtained through “flow” activities that require active physical and psychic investment.⁴ With that being said, flow is defined as a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to absolute absorption in an activity^.5. In fact, there are six key factors that encompass the experience of flow⁶:

Intense and focused concentration on the present moment
Merging of action and awareness
A loss of reflective self-consciousness
A sense of personal control or agency over the situation or activity
A distortion of temporal experience
Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding

So, how can we “get into the zone”?!

READING

Around the world, the most frequently mentioned enjoyable activity is reading⁵. What can be more absolutely absorbing than ‘losing yourself’ in a good book?! Whether it be fantasy or non-fiction, reading is a great way to become completely involved in an activity, leading to feelings of immersive interest and maybe even a different experience of time itself. Getting wrapped up in an engrossing read allows for the opportunity to escape your own sense of self-consciousness, even if just momentarily.

BEING WITH OTHER PEOPLE

Followed closely behind reading as being reported as the most enjoyable activity is being with other people⁵. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into this particular activity, there are still ways to socialize with other people- whether that be engaging in shared virtual gaming, meeting via video-call hangouts, or even writing letters back and forth! Engaging with others in various ways allows us to focus our concentration on the present moment- a key factor in the experience of flow⁶.

CREATING ART

Another great way to reach a state of flow is to create art, which allows for a sense of control as well as a merging of action and awareness. Any act of creating and crafting that brings you into the present moment will do- painting, playing music, sculpting, sewing, or even doodling, to name a few. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

GETTING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

Physical activity is an exceptional way to achieve a state of flow, specifically in its ability to provide opportunities to match one’s skill level to a challenging or goal. Think of a physical activity, like swimming, running, or yoga- we feel most accomplished and competent, allowing for experiences of confidence and a sense of control, when the goal of the activity is well matched to our ability. A beginner runner who participates in a 5K marathon would most likely not reach a state of flow, but an advanced runner could surely “get into the zone”. Not excluding one’s ability to expand one’s skill set, make sure to get your body moving in challenging ways, but not too challenging!

With all of this being said, developing tangible techniques to reach states of flow offer exciting opportunities to work towards finding balance among all five aspects of self and reaching our full potentials. Given the multitude of ways to achieve flow, that elusive emotion we call happiness is surely within our reach!

FOOTNOTES

International Day of Happiness.��
Freedman, J. (1978).��Happy People: What Happiness Is, Who Has It, and Why. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Berry, Natalie (2013, February 17) Are Happy Students Successful Students? https://natberryblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/are-happy-students-successful-students/
Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). The Concept of Flow. In C. Snyder, & S. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 89-105). Oxford University Press.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990).��Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper and Row.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1975).��Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. Washington: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Summer Reading Suggestions for Gifted Kids

��Ƶ Staff — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:06:35 +0000

by Katie Sanborn, Office Manager

Summer is here! Whether you or your gifted child are taking summer school courses, attending camp, traveling or enjoying activities with family and friends, summertime is a great opportunity to enjoy some extra reading. Do you have a long road trip coming up? Listen to an audiobook. Will you have time to kill at the airport? Reading a book will help pass the time. Are you and your friends on the hunt for a new endeavor? Start a book club to read and discuss novels together. In case you need some convincing to read beyond your assigned summer reading for school, here are you should be reading more:

Reading reduces stress.
Reading, especially books, may add years to your life.
Reading improves your language skills and knowledge of the world.
Reading enhances empathy.
Reading boosts creativity and flexibility.
Reading can help you transform as a person.

I personally enjoy reading because it’s a gratifying and necessary way for me to unplug. I love the moment when I discover I’ve been reading for hours on end because I’ve been so enveloped in a story and lost track of time. Sometimes there’s nothing better than devouring a good book!

Here are a few summer reads I’ve compiled to help inspire your and your gifted child’s summer reading list:

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers (Gr K–3): A moving and conversational description of the history of the Statue of Liberty and how some of the smallest details contribute to her symbolism as a welcoming beacon to the world.
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (Gr 3–7): Told from four intertwining points of view—two boys and two girls—the novel celebrates bravery, being different and finding your inner bayani (hero).
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty (Gr 4–6): Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills and, ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12-years-old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass one more test—middle school!
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Gr 5–6): Ally struggles to hide her dyslexia by continually getting in trouble, until a substitute teacher discovers what she is really hiding.
Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant by Mayim Bialik (Gr 7–9): Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory and author of the #1 bestseller Girling Up, puts her Ph.D. to work to talk to teen boys about the science and pressures of growing up male in today’s world.

Happy reading!

Do you have a favorite novel or book you are looking forward to reading this summer? Share it with us in the comments below!

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read – Institute for Educational Advancement