 “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” - Alexander Graham Bell So, you’ve figured out what keeps you from focusing on your project or your studies. You’ve located a nice, quiet place to think, study, and work; or discovered ways to control the distractions at least to a certain degree. You are taking steps to change bad habits, like procrastinating and you’ve even found ways to relax and reduce the stress and anxiety in your life. Yet you still find your thoughts buzzing around like errant bees, flitting this way and that, but never lighting long enough to accomplish anything. Now what, you ask? You’re still not able to focus on the task at hand, and the harder you try, the more elusive concentration becomes. You may have even found yourself staring out the window, daydreaming, while the task waits in front of you, unfinished, maybe not even begun. Many times, the reason we aren’t able to focus on the task in front of us, is that we haven’t properly outlined our ultimate goals. If you don’t know what you want or need, it’s difficult to get started. It’s like deciding to take a road trip, without ever determining where it is you wish to go. You can’t start out without a direction and a desired destination. Your goals may feel almost impossible to reach, too overwhelming to wrap your brain around. It’s time to sit down and determine where you want to go, or exactly what it is you wish to accomplish. If necessary, break down the goal into smaller, more easily accomplished steps to help you get started on your journey. Helmut Schmidt tells us, “It must be born in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” Without clearly delineated goals, you’re simply spinning your wheels. You become a hamster in an exercise wheel, running round and round, without ever getting anywhere. As odd as it may sound, the best way to do this is to figure out what your ultimate goal might be and work backwards. Let’s say you want to eventually become a surgeon. You obviously can’t just take off willy-nilly, saying you want to be a surgeon, and hope you’ll eventually become one. You need a plan, a carefully laid out step-by-step plan. Working backwards, you determine that you’ll need experience and years of medical training; that starts with a good college education, followed by medical school, interning, specialized training, etc. Now that you know precisely what you want to accomplish and you have a plan, you can begin the journey towards a degree and the work you desire. It’s the same with any goal you can dream of. You need a plan and a timetable. Remember, ‘someday’ is not a day of the week. Make a plan, determine how long it will take you to achieve your dream and then you are ready to focus on something, not a vague ‘someday,’ but a firm time in your mind. Establishing a goal is great, but you must have a deadline. Having a plan, a roadmap, if you will, helps to overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed, which is also a deterrent to concentrating. You know what you want, you know how to get it; you know every step needed to get you there. You simply have to follow the roadmap and you will arrive at your destination in the allotted period. Okay, you’ve got your roadmap all laid out, your plans are ready, you know what you want and which way to go. Your project awaits your attention and still your thoughts are scattered, difficult to pin down and focus on the task at hand. Every time you sit down and try to concentrate, your thoughts start spinning round and round again. For some people, it helps to write down these dizzy moments - what got them started and where they led. Try keeping a journal for a few weeks, to help you see what your mind is focusing on and to help you learn how to put that focus where it should be, where you want and need it to be. We’d all like to have the mental alertness, the sharpness of a laser when it comes to our thoughts and focusing on a project or task. Most of us are not fortunate enough to possess anything like that. Scientists have discovered many people’s brains are actually working less as they go about the tasks that really require more attention and a higher level of brain activity. How can that be, you ask? Most of us haven’t learned to produce the brainwave patterns that will result in a high level of concentration and focused attention. It’s rare for us to be in that kind of focused mode; we’re easily distracted and it takes time to teach our brains to switch into that kind of intense, attentive state necessary. There have been many great minds capable of that kind of focused attention, but most of us don’t have that ability. That doesn’t mean we can’t learn how to train our brains to be more focused and attentive. It just takes practice, practice, and more practice. It’s a skill like any other and can be mastered in time. Think back to a time when you were absolutely absorbed by a book, or movie, or maybe a conversation that was so interesting, you couldn’t get it out of your mind. What was it about that book, movie, or conversation that had you so enraptured, you couldn’t stop thinking about it? No doubt, there have been times you simply lost track of time while reading, watching a film, or talking to someone you found utterly fascinating. You’ve already discovered that your attention span increases for subjects that interest you, subjects you find thrilling. But what do you do about subjects that you have little or no interest in? It is possible that you believe you have no interest in something because you really know very little about it. Learning more might increase your attention span. Treat that subject as if it were already a favorite topic of yours; learn about it, research it. It really comes down to a psychological game; you simply trick yourself into liking something new. When it comes to tackling a new project, it may be necessary to do some brainstorming. Simply sitting there and telling yourself to think won’t work, in fact, the more you tell yourself to think, the more it sits there powerless to come up with anything of value. Take advantage of the Alpha stage, that creative, thoughtful level, when your brain is relaxed and the thoughts flow unencumbered by stress and anxiety. Many people find it helpful to keep a pen and paper handy during these times, to catch those thoughts before they disappear. When you’re in the midst of a task and unable to marshal your thoughts, try and relax, let yourself slip into that Alpha state, that state of creativity. Buddha said, “There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.” It’s simply a matter of learning to discipline your mind. So it really is clearly a case of mind over matter. We must learn how to:
This may seem like an overwhelming process, but is essential if we are to become successful, effective, and totally in charge of our lives. Sam Horn, in his book “ConZentration,” tells us “Concentration is mindfully managing our Thoughts, Interest, Moments and Emotions, and that we come to understand the best way to make the most of our time, is to make the most of this moment.” So, what do you do if while you’re sitting at your desk, working away, fully focused on your project, a stray thought suddenly intrudes itself upon your mind? Exactly what do you do with an unwanted thought? It may sound silly, but you must learn to say “No!” Recognize that it is an intrusion into your mind, and consciously push it away and slam the door on it, as you would any intrusion. It may come knocking on that door again, insisting that you pay attention to it right now. It’s not essential that you deal with that intrusive thought at that particular moment, insistent as it might be. If you must deal with it, make a promise to yourself to handle that thought later, not right now when you’re focused on the important project. By promising to deal with it later, rather than telling it to just go away, there is no guilt that holds you and keeps you from concentrating. You will get to it when you have the time, but not right now. For now, it’s time to refocus and regain that concentration. Paul Valery said, “Man’s great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake to mask or block a thought, or all thought.” Giving up or allowing yourself to become frustrated will accomplish nothing. Be persistent in getting your mind to remain focused on the project at hand. Learning this kind of mind management takes time, but is well worth the effort. You will become more productive and accomplish tasks in less time. While you’re working on that project, don’t forget to get up once in a while and take a break. A short walk and some deep breathing exercises will help stimulate the blood circulation and oxygen to your brain. Try switching subjects now and then, to avoid burnout. A little change of pace will also keep you from becoming bored. Advantages to True Concentration Being able to focus and concentrate all your energies to the task at hand helps you perform them better, faster and more efficiently. If you’re a student, it helps with your studying time, helping you learn more in less time. Your understanding of each subject is increased and your memory enhanced. Concentration allows you to be more creative and imaginative; you’re able to visualize the end result, making your goals more reachable and achievable. When your mind is focused and you’re able to concentrate solely on that task, you’ll find your mind is not clogged with useless, unwanted thoughts that keep you from your goals. You’re not letting worries and stress rule your life and keep you from true mind mastery. You are in control. Being able to focus and concentrate fully allows your natural healing abilities to develop. You are now able to control your thoughts, giving you peace of mind you’ve never before experienced. Your self-confidence will soar, giving you the inner strength and will power you’ve always desired. You’ll find that you function better in your daily life, now that you have the ability to make better decisions and carry them out. Your mind will be calm and relaxed and you’ll experience total freedom from useless, unwanted thoughts and actions; you’ll think what you want, when you want, and about anything you want. This will make for a much happier you, and in turn a much happier family life, not to mention a much more satisfying work life as well. |
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