--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: a constant alternation between a highly…" description: "\"“a constant alternation between a highly concentrated critical assessment and a relaxed, receptive, nonjudgmental openness to experience. His attention..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_focus_a-constant-alternation-between-a-highly_2202991.jpg" --- # a constant alternation between a highly concentrated… ![“a constant alternation between a highly concentrated critical assessment and a relaxed, receptive, nonjudgmental openness to experience. His attention coils and uncoils, its focus sharpens and softens, like the systolic and diastolic beat of the heart. It is out of this dynamic change of…” quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_focus_a-constant-alternation-between-a-highly_2202991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_focus_a-constant-alternation-between-a-highly_2202991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_focus_a-constant-alternation-between-a-highly_2202991.jpg) > ““a constant alternation between a highly concentrated critical assessment and a relaxed, receptive, nonjudgmental openness to experience. His attention coils and uncoils, its focus sharpens and softens, like the systolic and diastolic beat of the heart. It is out of this dynamic change of perspective that a good new work arises.”” [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work emerges when focused analysis alternates with open, receptive awareness, like heartbeats shifting between contraction and relaxation. **In simple terms:** Good work needs both sharp focus and relaxed openness. Key Takeaway Balance intense focus with relaxed receptivity. Themes creativity focus openness balance Mood engaged curious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - artistic creation - problem solving - research - design Key Concepts Flow theory cognitive flexibility attention dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you schedule alternating periods of deep focus and relaxed observation? - What signs indicate you need to shift from analysis to openness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on analysis can stall progress; too much openness can dilute direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Critical Assessment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-assessment-4847280/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Heart Dynamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-dynamic-4847279/) [Nonjudgmental Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonjudgmental-openness-833213/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [Uncoils Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncoils-focus-4847281/) ## Related quotes > [ Over time, as the thinking mind begins to settle \[through the practice of meditation\], we’ll start to see our patterns and habits far more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/over-time-as-the-thinking-mind-begins-to-settle-through-the-practice/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Shift often from openness to closure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/shift-often-from-openness-to-closure/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [One asana is strong, then again another is very soft and gentle. 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Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Out in the field I try not to hold expectations. I try to achieve an openness. The senses heighten so that I am totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-lazelle/out-in-the-field-i-try-not-to-hold-expectations-i-try-to-achieve-an/) [Keith Lazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-lazelle/) > [Lucasfilm has always had an openness to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/lucasfilm-has-always-had-an-openness-to-technology/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) ## More by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi > [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. 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A broader viewpoint that breaks across disciplinary boundaries is needed, a way of understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/wisdom-and-integrity-cannot-be-found-in-any-single-domain-a-broader/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Many business leaders today view their jobs as entailing responsibility for the welfare of the wider community. These individuals do not define themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/many-business-leaders-today-view-their-jobs-as-entailing/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The rules themselves are clear enough, and within everyone’s reach. 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I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. 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