Ideas worth spreading

Flow, the secret to happiness

7,326,022 views |

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi |

TED2004

• February 2004

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Positive psychologist

See speaker profile

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi contributed pioneering work to our understanding of happiness, creativity, human fulfillment and the notion of "flow" -- a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play and work.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.