"Happiness is absorption" ~ T.E. Lawrence


"Flow" is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the positive psychology concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.

Csíkszentmihályi identifies the following nine factors as accompanying an experience of flow:

1. Clear goals (expectations and rules are discernible and goals are attainable and align appropriately with one's skill set and abilities). Moreover, the challenge level and skill level should both be high.

2. Concentrating, a high degree of concentration on a limited field of attention (a person engaged in the activity will have the opportunity to focus and to delve deeply into it).

3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness, the merging of action and awareness.

4. Distorted sense of time, one's subjective experience of time is altered.

5. Direct and immediate feedback (successes and failures in the course of the activity are apparent, so that behavior can be adjusted as needed).

6. Balance between ability level and challenge (the activity is neither too easy nor too difficult).

7. A sense of personal control over the situation or activity.
The activity is intrinsically rewarding, so there is an effortlessness of action.

8. A lack of awareness of bodily needs (to the extent that one can reach a point of great hunger or fatigue without realizing it)

9. Absorption into the activity, narrowing of the focus of awareness down to the activity itself, action awareness merging.

Of course, you don't need a to be a psychologist to know this feeling. It's called being in the zone.

This is absolutely awesome!!!! Not only becasue of the sharpness of the "drops" comming out of the water, but also because of the background... that seems to be purple sand! ????? · 2012-01-17: 16:04

When I was running marathons competetively and training very hard, I have experienced what is known as a "runner's high" on a few occasions. It is a feeling of limitless ability and effortless movement. Total control and an exhileration that is beyond words. It was a feeling of unity inside and out. Your image speaks well of it. danrav · 2012-01-17: 16:28

AMAZING POST MARJORIE..... ????? · 2012-01-17: 16:46

I can see you are going with the flow. Outstanding image M. Keryl · 2012-01-17: 16:48

Fantastic shot!!!! Perfect timing......great clarity!!! I especially love the little droplet to the upper right - somehow it just helps make the whole shot! "The zone," yes!!! lookagain · 2012-01-17: 16:53

Amazing shot..love the color too..I am in the "flow" when absorbed in watercolor painting.....and in photoblogging :-) NellyBly · 2012-01-17: 17:08

Btw, so sorry I missed your birthday...hope it was a nice one :-)) NellyBly · 2012-01-17: 17:09

oh I know what you are working on!!! fabulous work Marjorie :) love being in the zone and find when I am on a photo hunt or doing art time just flies by.... beth0110 · 2012-01-17: 17:15

lovely cature. You know your in the right headspace when you suddenly realize you`ve forgotten to get tea ready! :-)) va000119 · 2012-01-17: 18:13

great shot!! i was practicing for Fridays challenge today too!! jennyLit · 2012-01-17: 18:15

I enjoyed your post today Marjorie, great shots and words to go with it. joycephotography · 2012-01-17: 18:36

are you practicing? hahaha :p onlyricky · 2012-01-17: 19:21

Beautiful capture! ????? · 2012-01-17: 19:49

Amazing! LisaMarieGeorge · 2012-01-17: 20:16

Perfect! ... Artistic! Shaparak · 2012-01-17: 20:48

Beautifully composed and developed Marjorie. stabeez · 2012-01-17: 20:49

This is too cool! Really nice! lukesmom · 2012-01-17: 21:09

Excellent image! lgnelson · 2012-01-17: 21:37

Outstanding post this is going into my favorites so I can read it again and again,Great shot~!~ mallusatish · 2012-01-17: 21:42

Looks like you are taking full advantage of that lens! I favorited this one, too many things to list, I even like the background color underneath the water, great technique. sooch · 2012-01-18: 00:30

super shot! :) bumpusdogs · 2012-01-18: 07:59

Absolutely FABULOUS Marjorie!!!!! You get better and better and better!! Love your post about "flow" as well. Excellent liveandletlive · 2012-01-18: 12:02

Really thoughtful and brilliantly executed. poshrat · 2012-01-18: 12:21

Congratulations on the Most Deserved FP~!~ mallusatish · 2012-01-19: 21:55

you're a FP star! :) bumpusdogs · 2012-01-19: 21:55

So happy to see this on FP! Congratulations M!!!!! Keryl · 2012-01-19: 22:12

Congratulations on your FP! DancingDolphin · 2012-01-19: 22:41

Congrats on the FP !! That was a wonderful Capture !! catdad · 2012-01-19: 22:41

*round-off, handspring, handspring, single, twisting one and a half, double, whip, layout* WOO HOO!!!! Fantastic (((((Marjorie)))))) Huge congratulations!!! (PS, computer is on its way!) liveandletlive · 2012-01-19: 22:45

Congrats on FP! Shaparak · 2012-01-19: 23:10

Marjorie, this is really an incredible capture, so sharp, and so well timed.Glad to see it as FP. Congratulations, very well deserved !!! ValMacedo · 2012-01-19: 23:25

Oh, I recognized this one right away!!! Awesome shot.....FP congrats, Marjorie!!! lookagain · 2012-01-19: 23:27

whooohoooo Marj, congrats on a more than well deserved FP!!!!!! Fantastic capture and shot!! eternity65 · 2012-01-19: 23:50

congrats, your photo is fantastic ! camilleauteuil · 2012-01-20: 00:12

yippeee! congratulations on fp Marjorie :) and woohoo!!! beth0110 · 2012-01-20: 00:26

*applause* what a fantastic picture! congratulations.. AnEyeArchy · 2012-01-20: 00:29

bravo! it is splendid done!great, great congrats! gonia · 2012-01-20: 01:13

A perfect drop! Congratulations :)) EvaLizette · 2012-01-20: 01:29

Absolutely fabulous and the text is interesting! Congratulations for this FP josy63 · 2012-01-20: 01:42

without the words, simply "perfect"...congratulations for FP giancaf · 2012-01-20: 01:48

Congrats, great post! vandee · 2012-01-20: 01:59

Excellent .! Congratulations. farideh · 2012-01-20: 02:10

amazing shot!! congrats for FP u deserve it.. :) tehcpeng · 2012-01-20: 02:28

It is something almost abstract in this beautiful image. Congratulations on a well deserved FP! :) Izobel · 2012-01-20: 02:28

fantastic shot Marjorie! I just had a feeling that this photo belongs to you when I first saw it. This is one Marjorie shot! I wonder and very curious how you achieve this beautifully. Bravo! Congrats! lyricalthoughts · 2012-01-20: 02:38

Wonderful photo!Congratulations on your FP! haidehhomam · 2012-01-20: 02:49

Congratulations on your FP well deserved! deandrade · 2012-01-20: 02:58

Congratulations on your FP!!! Dropblue · 2012-01-20: 03:01

WoooW...Congratulations my Dear friend !!! borogovoi · 2012-01-20: 03:09

Fantastic shot... Well done and congrats on the FP! Annbramwell · 2012-01-20: 03:14

Makes me want to try and shoot water droplets!! fantastic image. Congrats on F.P. pcmcgarry · 2012-01-20: 03:48

Yeah! Congrats on FP!!! Well deserved :) sasa99 · 2012-01-20: 04:43

Looks like a glass bowl perfect shot well done on your FP busybee · 2012-01-20: 04:48

Congrats on FP . You described my efforts at painting and drawing it "TOTALLY" absorbs me and I lose track of time. Not so good when you have a hungry family to feed ha! ha! MoMac · 2012-01-20: 05:09

Amazing FP!! Well done! mazpics · 2012-01-20: 05:15

beautiful, congrats on the FP anggrekfoto · 2012-01-20: 05:16

Superb shot :-) Arie · 2012-01-20: 05:55

Congratulations marjorie! "The zone" is a great place!! It paid off here! danrav · 2012-01-20: 06:41

hahhaha see! congrats ;) onlyricky · 2012-01-20: 07:18

Big Congrats with this amazing capture and with your FP!!! Ryana · 2012-01-20: 07:23

so well deserved Marjorie....Lets give up a big WHOOP WHOOP !!! Congrats to the highest..☺ MARETKA88 · 2012-01-20: 07:42

back to say congrats!!:)) jennyLit · 2012-01-20: 08:18

Well done on the FP. That alone must be worth the financial outlay for the new lens... (plus all the fun you're having with it, of course). revenant · 2012-01-20: 08:22

Congrats Marjorie...happy for you.Beautiful Capture.. ????? · 2012-01-20: 08:47

AWESOME! CONGRATS!!! Patricia132 · 2012-01-20: 09:49

Congratulations marjorie! well deseved, it,s paid Your new lens... LisaMarieGeorge · 2012-01-20: 09:50

excellent :) mountainflower · 2012-01-20: 09:51

See what a little frustration can get you? :-))) Many congrats to you! great shot! KatysPassionata · 2012-01-20: 10:32

Really well done, congrats GKorts · 2012-01-20: 10:34

Beautiful capture, congratulation for fp. Clickpen · 2012-01-20: 10:50

Perfect capture! Congratulations on the FP. paintbox · 2012-01-20: 11:08

Congratulations on your FP. Really well deserved iso400 · 2012-01-20: 12:00

Yippeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! :-)))) ????? · 2012-01-20: 12:46

Perfect!!!! silki · 2012-01-20: 13:27

NICE multikinoo · 2012-01-20: 14:39

Wonderful shot. Great lesson too. Jarvo · 2012-01-20: 16:23

congrats no your FP well deserved... Yves51 · 2012-01-20: 17:27

Congrats on the FP! Great capture! darfoster · 2012-01-20: 17:51

This pic is just....AMAZING! I can't stop looking at it. :) Congrats! Sprilly20 · 2012-01-20: 18:54

;-) Congrats - very deserving ilikethat · 2012-01-20: 20:14

Fantastic, Marjorie! So many of your images have deserved to be the Featured Photo! This one is incredible - AND with your new camera! djnana · 2012-01-20: 20:30

Well, that's a nice payback for the new lens....! Congrats! honzicek · 2012-01-20: 21:16

Stunning, Marjorie! Like a pearl and a well... belated congrats! CHOSSID · 2012-01-21: 23:22

Tagged: droplet water macro