Running Flow by Csikszentmihalyi Mihaly & Latter Philip & Weinkauff Duranso Christine

Author:Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly & Latter, Philip & Weinkauff Duranso, Christine [Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781492535720
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Published: 2017-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

The Perils of Ambiguous Feedback

A classic example of the opposite (ambiguous feedback) is getting lost running in the woods. For 10 miles (16 km) you could be having the time of your life, climbing mountains and jumping through streams. Your body feels strong, and mentally you’re confident you’ll finish the run with no obstacles. All of a sudden you realize the trail looks unfamiliar. Maybe you’ve missed the cutoff. Maybe you need to backtrack. Is there a phone nearby with service? What if you run out of water? As these questions and concerns swirl, all semblance of flow is lost. Nervous and afraid, your prefrontal cortex kicks in to process every option. Your pace slows as you begin to unconsciously conserve calories for the uncertain future. You may even come to a complete stop, ostensibly to help you make a decision. The very thought of trudging back up the mountain makes your legs quiver. One minute ago you felt fine. Now it’s as if a 50-pound sandbag has been thrown on your shoulders. Nothing physical has changed; everything has to do with the mental interpretation of unfolding events.

While ambiguity can ruin even the greatest run, unambiguous positive feedback can take you to the highest level imaginable. Everything seems possible when your heart and lungs and legs feel strong and feedback from your coach, your watch, spectators, and environment is all positive. Paces you never thought you’d hit happen. Landmarks you never thought you’d reach on foot appear. Two-hour runs pass by in what seems like 20 minutes. And all because the mind and body are on the same page.

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