Autotelic
Autotelic means 'being a purpose or goal in itself’. It is usually used in relation to 'play'. So the doing of an autotelic activity is the purpose or goal in itself. This has a lot to do with enjoyment and with valuing something in the present rather than for what it can bring you later. It relates to the mindset you have during the activity rather than the type of activity. So an activity can have an external goal, but still have an autotelic mindset. Classifying something as 'autotelic' is a very personal decision therefore.
"For me, bouncing on a trampoline is an autotelic activity. For a trampolining champion, presumably sometimes bouncing on a trampoline is not an autotelic activity."
Donated by Katherine Smith