Autotelic

definition from the Encarta World Dictionary
1. done for its own sake: done for its own sake rather than to gain a material reward or avoid a punishment
2. philosophy possessing internal purpose: describes an entity or event that has within itself the purpose of its existence or occurrence

In some ways I relate this to the Zen proverb: "Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water." Once we can do things for their own enjoyment, they are no longer burdens but a way to live and enjoy everything we do. Essentially every activity becomes autotelic.

Alan Watts put it this way: “This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”

What's more fascinating about autotelic is that it has been used to describe a personality type! I believe Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was one of the ascribe this context. This is how he describes autotelics: "An autotelic person needs few material possessions and little entertainment, comfort, power, or fame because so much of what he or she does is already rewarding. Because such persons experience flow in work, in family life, when interacting with people, when eating, even when alone with nothing to do, they are less dependent on the external rewards that keep others motivated to go on with a life composed of routines. They are more autonomous and independent because they cannot be as easily manipulated with threats or rewards from the outside. At the same time, they are more involved with everything around them because they are fully immersed in the current of life."

While I'm not one more labels, I do like patterns and this is a pattern that has many elements which ring true for me. I wonder how many autotelics are there?