The moving beyond average signifies an investment of mental energy into a task. Flow is predicted to occur when the individual moves beyond average experience of challenge and skill. The first and perhaps most critical dimension of flow is the concept of challenge–skill balance. This definition covers several characteristics of flow, and Csikszentmihalyi has detailed the experience of flow into nine dimensions. Flow can be defined as an experience that stands out as being better than average in some way, where the individual is totally absorbed in what is being done, and where the experience is very rewarding in and of itself. When in flow, one feels strong and positive, not worried about self or failure.

Flow has been identified as a key psychological construct in positive psychology, a growing field of interest in psychology, particularly with regard to positive subjective experience. In addition to the enjoyment that flow brings an individual, the experience of flow is associated with many positive psychological characteristics, and is an optimal performance state. There has been remarkable consistency in how flow has been described by individuals across diverse settings. Flow has been examined across diverse settings, from daily living to a state of mind associated with scientific discoveries.

Since his initial investigations where the term flow was chosen to denote these special absorbing experiences, Csikszentmihalyi has continued a research program examining this experience. Despite such diversity in setting, there was considerable consistency of responses regarding what was felt during moments that stood out as being special in some way for the individual. The types of activities initially investigated by Csikszentmihalyi were diverse, ranging from surgery to dancing to chess and rock climbing. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi developed the flow concept in the 1970s, after investigating the experiences of individuals when everything came together during times of involvement with a chosen activity.

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