Salus Forum: May 7, 2025

Now, what’s interesting is that Csikszentmihalyi, along with Martin Seligman, has led a revolution in psychology that began before the start of the 21st century. These prominent psychologists proposed that we focus not just on the negative stuff, but also the positive stuff. What makes us happy?

I was thinking of the work that Joe does. Much like in psychology, when do we begin to look at what it is that makes people happy or what constitutes a Flow experience? What are the neural dynamics involved in happiness and in Flow? What happens in the brain when Bill G was coming to the peak in the cascades? Do we know much? We are finding out a great deal about the damage done to the brain. Do we know much about how the brain operates when it’s working well?

Joe

They have done studies on this, Bill B, in terms of looking at the neurotransmitters and the CSF. I’m very familiar with the concept of Flow. I love that book, and it just is so true. Time becomes suspended, your bodily functions become unaware of them, and it’s something in surgery that occurs when you’re operating on somebody. It is clearly a Flow experience. Everything gets shut out, and you’re focusing entirely on what you’re doing or writing a book or a paper or an art piece or a musical instrument, how that occurs. And the various neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, the endocannabinoid system, and also serotonin, have all been related to that experience.

Bill B

It’s wonderful that you’re mentioning something other than dopamine. Most people trivialize and dismiss peak experiences, such as Flow, by saying: “You’re getting a hit of dopamine”. Joe, you’re saying there’s so much more operating there. Not just a pleasurable experience. There’s a whole lot of functional things happening. Anyway, I’m glad you’re mentioning the other factors that are operating.

Jeremy 

I think the alpha and theta brain waves dominate during Flow states. So, Flow might be on the spectrum with meditation. However, Flow would be more active. It’s fascinating because I think all of us have had Flow experiences, and, for many of us, these are peak experiences. I’m sure Flow occurs during my triathlons, I have Flow during my time of running time, and during my cycling.

These and other sports tend to be where I experience Flow the most. I think that’s something to keep in mind, because I do think we overestimate that it only happens to elite athletes, you know. But we used to call it “a runner’s high” when I was in high school. We said, “Yeah, I had a runner’s high.” For me, there was an aura of time stopping as I kept running. I had as much energy as I’ve ever had in my life. I remember talking about my runner’s high with my friends in high school. We had no idea what Flow was, but we had heard of and experienced a runner’s high.