Try to be surprised by something every day. It could be something you see, hear, or read about. Stop to look at the unusual car parked at the curb, taste the new item on the cafeteria menu, actually listen to your colleague at the office. How is this different from other similar cars, dishes or conversations? What is its essence? Don't assume that you already know what these things are all about, or that even if you knew them, they wouldn't matter anyway. Experience this once thing for what it is, not what you think it is. Be open to what the world is telling you. Life is nothing more than a stream of experiences - the more widely and deeply you swim in it, the richer your life will be. . Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
About This Quote

The quotation above is a quote from Mark Twain's essay, "The Mysterious Stranger." In it, he expresses his idea that life is a collection of experiences, but the most valuable kind of experience is that which surprises you. He believed that life was made up of experiences that were new to you. Try to be surprised by something every day.

Source: Creativity: Flow And The Psychology Of Discovery And Invention

Some Similar Quotes
  1. We accept the love we think we deserve. - Stephen Chbosky

  2. He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give... - Bob Marley

  3. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. - Suzanne Collins

  4. I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How... - Mother Teresa

  5. If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets. - Haruki Murakami

More Quotes By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
  1. Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person's capacity to act.

  2. Control of consciousness determines the quality of life.

  3. If one has failed to develop curiosity and interest in the early years, it is a good idea to acquire them now, before it is too late to improve the quality of life. To do so is fairly easy in principle, but more difficult in...

  4. Contrary to what we usually believe, moments like these, the best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times–although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we have worked hard to attain them. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body...

  5. These examples suggest what one needs to learn to control attention. In principle any skill or discipline one can master on one’s own will serve: meditation and prayer if one is so inclined; exercise, aerobics, martial arts for those who prefer concentrating on physical skills....

Related Topics