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QUOTATION
“The battle is not really against your self, but against the entropy that brings disorder to consciousness it is really a battle for your self. It is a struggle for establishing control over your attention. You have to continuously decide to live your own life.” (Mihaly Csikszentmihlyi)
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INTERPRETATION
“This quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihlyi offers a different perspective on the internal struggles we face. Here’s how to understand it:
- Entropy vs. Self: Csikszentmihlyi suggests the main obstacle isn’t some internal enemy within ourselves, but rather the natural tendency towards disorder, which he refers to as “entropy.” This entropy can be external distractions, negative thoughts, or simply the lack of focus.
- Attention is the Battlefield: He argues that the real battle for our “self” takes place in the realm of attention. By controlling what we pay attention to, we can create order and fight back against the entropic forces that threaten to pull us away from living our own lives.
- Continuous Choice: Csikszentmihlyi emphasizes the ongoing nature of this struggle. We constantly face choices about where to direct our attention. Living our own life requires a conscious and repeated decision to focus on what matters to us.
This perspective is interesting because it:
- Shifts the focus from internal conflict to a battle against external distractions and a lack of focus.
- Highlights the importance of mindfulness and attention control in shaping our lives.
- Reminds us that living authentically requires ongoing effort and conscious choice.pen_spark” (Gemini ai)
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