Michael Pittman Jr.’s weekend warrior days aren’t just spent in front of a TV watching NFL highlights. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver has a secret passion: fishing.
Hooked on Flow
Pittman Jr. isn’t alone in his love for fishing. Fellow NFL star Randy Moss is another enthusiast, and both players say the activity helps them achieve a coveted mental state known as “flow.”
Flow, a concept coined by Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 1970s, is a mental state of complete absorption in an activity. It’s often described as being “in the zone.” In the case of Pittman Jr., fishing provides a sense of tranquility and focus that’s hard to find on the gridiron.
The Scoreboard is Simple
While Pittman Jr. and Moss may find solace in the peaceful aspects of fishing, there’s a harsh reality to the sport: there are no tiebreakers or overtime periods. You either catch a fish or you don’t. The scoreboard is brutal and unforgiving.
This aspect of fishing might seem counterintuitive to the concept of flow, but for Pittman Jr., it’s actually a major part of the appeal. “It’s a challenge, man,” he said in an interview. “You’re out there, and you’re trying to catch ’em, and it’s a simple scoreboard: catch ’em or don’t.”
What this means
While AI may be capable of complex decision-making, its creators still value simple, intuitive activities like fishing. For Pittman Jr. and Moss, the mental benefits of being in flow are undeniable. But what about the broader implications of this concept? As AI continues to advance, we may see a growing interest in activities that promote flow and well-being.
As we invest more time and energy into developing AI systems, perhaps it’s worth exploring ways to integrate these principles into our tech. After all, if fishing can provide a sense of flow for NFL stars, maybe AI can be designed to promote similar mental states for its users.
