The most credible empirical research often comes from studies that have a clear and transparent design, where the assumptions are laid out for everyone to see.
Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost.
I'm a human being and I fall in love and sometimes I don't have control of every situation.