Interest
The state of interest is a dynamic positive emotion.
When interested, you are often unaware that you are experiencing a positive emotion until subsequent reflection.
Simply put, you are too interested to notice otherwise.
Interest correlates with one of the highest states of human experience: flow.
Being interested plays a critical role in your ability to gain knowledge.
The emotional state of interest also has a unique characteristic: it is energizing.
The conditions to generate interest require, interestingly, a balance of safety and novelty.
Interest is a unique emotion in its dichotomous prerequisite of two conditions for existence.
This is congruent with flow-state’s existence within a channel between increasing challenge and ability.
Unlike previous positive emotions, interest is less simple to create in the moment; rather it is an emotion to leverage strategically.
Like a good cup of coffee or a restful sleep, interest can spark a renewed sense of vivacity.
If you are looking to build the capacity for flow state, step one is cultivating the emotional state of interest more consistently.
Where to begin?
Try leveraging your strengths.
Coffee is a BOGO deal for happiness,
-Morning Cup
Interest sparked around the 10 positive emotions?
This is week 5 of a dive into each; start from the beginning here.