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Focused Attention- Train Your Brain
Focused attention- have you heard that term? I learned about focused attention this winter. Across the country, winter has been one of the harshest on record. However, for me, I am humbled to say, it has been one of my best winters. One of those reasons is that I practiced the process of focused attention.
What is Focused Attention?
Focused attention is the ability to train your brain to think about one thing at a time and be fully present in the moment. It is your ability to fully focus on someone or something else, to be compassionate and kind, to experience the novelty of the moment and finally, to be completely refreshed by what you are noticing, such as a gorgeous sunset. It's the opportunity to turn off the negative chatter and racing thoughts that are going through your head and enjoy that moment.
Watching a young child provides an example of focused attention or being fully present. They are not thinking about the past nor carrying the weight of the future. They are focused on the moment, enjoying play and noticing people's attention to them. They certainly are not listening to negative chatter in their heads!
According to Dr. Amit Sood, author of The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living "Trained attention is focused, released, compassionate, nonjudgemental, sustained, deep and intentional. Its optimal practice helps you forget yourself, immerses you in the world's novelty, and frees your mind for creativity and joy."
How might Focused Attention be beneficial?
Focused attention helps you slow down by starting to notice and focus on people and things. What you put your attention on begins to grow. If you want to grow joy and peace, then you start to focus on one thing at a time a few times a day. Unfortunately, our brains are wired to focus on the negative as a protective device and those negative thoughts stick like velcro. Therefore, your attention to the negative tends to be like a flashlight. What you shine on, is what you think about. It takes real brain training and intentionality to focus on the beautiful, the novel and the positive and not beat yourself up.. Also, with the brain, focusing on the positive, turns off the flight or fight response and opens up creative, problem-solving thinking.
How do I practice Focused Attention?
Like any new habit, focused attention takes time to establish. Choose a way to practice that feels comfortable to you.
1) Determine that focused attention will help you slow down and enjoy the miracle of life around you.
2) Decide when you want to practice each day. Attach it to something else you are already doing such as first thing in the morning while eating breakfast, at lunch or on your way home from work.
3) Choose one strategy from the checklist graphic below that appeals to you and try it for two weeks. What do you notice about yourself? Others? What happens to your pace and thinking? What happens to your ability to problem-solve?
4) Notice the difference focused attention is making in your life. What miracles are you grateful for today?
I told you I practiced the process of focused attention this past winter. My two strategies included choosing not to think about how terrible the winter weather was (no negative chatter about winter) and starting each day with meditation on Scripture. I am healthier now than I have been in five years. How grateful I am to God and what I have learned by keeping focused on Him.
"Finally brothers and sisters, fill you minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me - do it- and the God of peace will walk with you." Philippians 4: 8-9 The Voice
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How can you train your mind today to have more focused attention?
What strategies will you choose?
Who will benefit?
Consider this as your daily workout - your brain in training!
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Be sure to forward this newsletter on to someone you think would like to focus their attention more fully and see miracles all around them. June's newsletter issue will include tips on how good self care strategies and make it the best summer yet!.
Check out my blog and website at www.livefullylifecoaching.com and Facebook page at Livefullylifecoaching and introduce yourself. See you next month!
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Nancy...
- Loves God and wants to share His delight with you
- Wants women, especially educators, to know they can slow down, regroup and discover possibilies that sustain their work-life balance
- Is passionate for women to live hopeful, healthy, live fully lives each day, mind, body and soul
- Loves her work and her family, especially her two granddaughters
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