achieving flow. Many of the peculiarities attributedto creative persons are really just ways to maintain concentration and lose themselves in thecreative process. Distraction interrupts flow and it may take hours to recover the peace ofmind one needs to get on with the work. The more ambitious the task, the longer it takes tolose oneself in it, and the easier it is to get distracted.When we are in flow, we do not usually feel happy for the simple reason that in flow we feelonly what is relevant to the activity. Happiness is a distraction. It is only after we get out offlow, at the end of a session or in moments of distraction within it, that we might indulge infeeling happy. And then there is the rush of well-being, of satisfaction that comes when thework is completed. In the long run, the more flow we experience in daily life, the more likelywe are to feel happy overall.Twenty-five centuries ago, Plato wrote that the most important task for a society was to teachthe young to find pleasure in the right objects. Unfortunately, it is easier to find pleasure inthings like sex, eating, mating, making money, etc because these activities are in synchronywith survival strategies established long ago in our physiological makeup. It is much moredifficult to learn to enjoy doing things that were discovered recently in our evolution, likemanipulating symbolic systems by doing math or science or writing poetry or music.CREATIVE SURROUNDINGSThe place where one lives is important for three main reasons. One must be able to accessthe domain in which one plans to work. Information is not distributed evenly in space but isconcentrated in different geographical nodes. Certain environments facilitate interaction andprovide more excitement and a greater effervescence of ideas. Therefore, they prompt thepersons who are already inclined to break away from conventions to experiment with noveltymore readily. For example, the closer one is to the major research laboratories, journals,departments, institutes, and conference centers, the greater the chances of being creative.Sometimes sudden availability of money at a certain place attracts artists or scientists andthat place becomes, at least for a while, one of the centres of the field.Creativity can be stimulated by a congenial physical environment. But this is not a simplecausal relationship. When creative persons find themselves in beautiful settings, they aremore likely to find new connections among ideas, new perspectives on issues they aredealing with. But it is essential to have perspectives on issues we are dealing with, i.e., tohave a prepared mind. Without some insights and perspectives, nothing much is likely tohappen.Our workplace and home should reflect our needs and tastes. The objects around us shouldhelp us become what we intend to be. How we use time and how we schedule our activitiesshould reflect the rhythm that work best for us. If in doubt we must experiment until wediscover the best timing for work and rest, for thought and action, for being alone and forbeing with people.THE EARLY YEARSIt is impossible to tell whether children will be creative or not just by looking at their earlytalents. Some children do show