Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

"The self becomes more defined, more complex, and stronger when it is challenged."

"We are made to grow. When we stop growing, we start dying."

"The shape of one's life is determined by how one has learned to work with pain and adversity."

"Unless a person learns to enjoy himself without the support of external rewards, he misses the opportunity to develop one of the most important dimensions of his self."

"To achieve optimal experience, we must set goals, develop skills, and maintain focus on what we're doing."

"The most fundamental reason to make art is because we must. It is as essential as breathing."

"If you want to live a full life, you have to be made fully alive. The way to be fully alive is in flow."

"Each person allocates his or her limited attention either by design or by default. Design is better."

"The meaning of life is not something hidden, waiting for discovery, but something created by each individual through living."

"When information and skills exceed the challenges they were meant to master, the result is boredom and apathy."

"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic strings, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects."

"The only way to maximize our full potential is to focus on what brings us genuine joy and fulfillment."

"Relationships are the stage we act on, and the plot is written by the interactions we have."

"What creates authentic happiness is the ability to find joy in the present moment, regardless of circumstances."

"The more you know, the more you realize how little you know. Knowledge is a path, not a destination."

"Life has been the art of being brave, of taking things as they come with grace and meeting adversity with fortitude."

"Success is not the final goal; the quality of experience is what matters most."

"A mind that is too active is a mind in pain. Peace comes from absorption."

"The self that emerges in the process of achieving optimal experience is more solid and complex than before."

"To find purpose, one must first discover what activities bring complete immersion and joy."

"Imagination is what allows us to transcend our current circumstances and envision new possibilities."

"The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life."

"As long as we cannot distinguish clearly between facts and interpretations, we cannot claim to understand the world."

"Innovation is the product of combining existing ideas in novel ways."

"We are the only creatures who can shape our own evolution."

"The greatest gift you can give another person is your full attention."

"To live well is to create meaning through focused engagement."

"Fear is the main obstacle to flow. When we fear failure, we cannot fully engage."

"The sign of a well-ordered personality is one's ability to be happy in almost any circumstances."

"Success is making your work your play."