“Do an activity for 21 days, and it becomes a habit.” I do not remember the exact source where I got this from, but it is a guiding principle I rely on for personal improvement. This approach reflects my commitment to “mental discipline” rather than the “constant spontaneity” discussed in “Paths of Liberation.” By consistently turning actions into habits, I believe it is possible to achieve a state of flow, since the book suggests that one of the reasons for failing to achieve flow is the inability to modify our habits.
Similar to the example of Alex and tennis, I find myself in a state of flow when I am learning and truly understanding something new. Here is where I stop aligning with the book. The book claims that repetition, as a specific level of challenge, leads to boredom and disrupts flow. I disagree. Since achieving complete mastery over a skill is impossible, there is always something new to learn from repetition. For instance, while practicing a tennis shot, the way I rebound the ball may stem from repetition and established neural patterns. Yet, I can still experiment with different techniques or the power of my shots and observe the results. This continuous experimentation and adjustment represent a learning phase, thereby inducing flow.
Furthermore, Roger Caillois’s division of the world’s games into Agon, Alea, Ilinx, and Mimicry overlooks everyday activities such as exercising, cooking, or singing. It is entirely possible to achieve a state of flow while engaging in these activities.