“Competition is an easy way to experience flow, but it is a cheap trick ”
— Mihaly Csíkszentmihalyi
Simplified Meaning:
When people compete, they often get really focused and everything else fades away. This feeling is called “flow”. It’s like when you play a game and get so into it that you forget about everything else. Competition helps people get into this state quickly. For example, when two friends are playing basketball, they try hard to win and feel very engaged. But, relying on competition to always feel this way isn’t the best idea. It's like using a shortcut. Instead, people should find joy in activities themselves, not just in beating others. For example, someone might learn to love painting for its own sake, not just to be better than their peers. This way, they can find flow by doing something they love, without needing to compete all the time.
