Csikszentmihalyi believes our external surroundings determine how we deal with our attention during solitude. In times of solitude, our minds are left to our own devices, forcing us to deal with our consciousness. Knowing how to effectively manage our consciousness turns “one’s energies from the mastery of the external world to a deeper exploration of inner reality” (172). How we fill times of solitude determines our personal development. Defending from the ontological anxiety of solitude induces participation in either activities that challenge concentration and skills or time wasting activities that distract the mind from unraveling. Those who rarely become bored and find enjoyment without favorable external environment live a “creative life.”
