Comments on: Smith “Field of Dreams” - The Flow State http://pos-psych.com/news/john-yeager/20080310656 Positive Psychology News Daily - Daily boost of research-based happiness. Authored by University of Pennsylvania graduates of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program (MAPP). Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:36:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: jeff dustin http://pos-psych.com/news/john-yeager/20080310656#comment-15146 jeff dustin Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:06:14 +0000 http://pos-psych.com/news/john-yeager/20080310656#comment-15146 John & Dave, John, very fine article...it was again one of your emotionally moving pieces about sports. Dave, I remember skimming the Ultimate Athlete, I think. The game is always the thing, though winning does cloud everyone's judgment. Good point. John & Dave,

John, very fine article…it was again one of your emotionally moving pieces about sports.

Dave,
I remember skimming the Ultimate Athlete, I think. The game is always the thing, though winning does cloud everyone’s judgment. Good point.

]]> By: Dave Shearon http://pos-psych.com/news/john-yeager/20080310656#comment-15130 Dave Shearon Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:17:32 +0000 http://pos-psych.com/news/john-yeager/20080310656#comment-15130 Somewhere, years ago, I read a book, maybe The Ultimate Athlete by George Leonard, that got through to me the concept of the game as the thing. The idea was that even in "competitive sports" it is ultimately about the doing, not the winning. Competition is a tool to get there. It is also a misdirection -- focusing on the winning as opposed to performing undercuts both performing and joy. That does NOT mean performers aren't competitors; it's a subtle thing. John, your article brought that distinction to the fore for me again. In that sense, it is true that "you win when you play sports." Thanks! Somewhere, years ago, I read a book, maybe The Ultimate Athlete by George Leonard, that got through to me the concept of the game as the thing. The idea was that even in “competitive sports” it is ultimately about the doing, not the winning. Competition is a tool to get there. It is also a misdirection — focusing on the winning as opposed to performing undercuts both performing and joy. That does NOT mean performers aren’t competitors; it’s a subtle thing. John, your article brought that distinction to the fore for me again. In that sense, it is true that “you win when you play sports.” Thanks!

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