When we are awake to the power of our focus, we wield an awesome power! Yes!
We imagine, conjure, and we master this ability. The mastery involves both enjoying the flow of creation and also pausing when the inspiration momentarily wanes. In that case, we switch where we look to get a reboot and rest.
Do you recall how Leonardo da Vinci would address it (as in How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci[1])? If the solution was not flowing easily, he recommended taking the time to go juggle for awhile. Allow one’s mind to concentrate on that activity a bit. Rest but actively engage elsewhere.
Then, we allow ourselves to receive a solution.
In practice, we can take advantage of the magic to this approach by substituting another focus for juggling. When we experiment with a distraction and fill ourselves with some play and appreciation of life, the process will produce results.
Change Where You Look
Example #1
Last night Alan woke with a bad dream. He attempted to return to slumber but he found himself disturbed by the emotions of those images in his sleep.
What to do? His “trick”: change his focus. He arose went down to his computer and read his email. The man found stimulation of a fond memory and happiness of new prospect of connection.
His mind was soothed and then he laid down again. With his hands he offered himself some Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help—found himself drifting off and then slept another few hours. Yes! He exercised skill in shifting his attention.
Example #2
Don reminisced about a brother-in-law, Carlos, from whom he’s been distanced by a divorce. That individual and he had become friends and shared art, gardening, and personal growth as some of their common interests.
Carlos’s birthday came about a week ahead of Don’s and Don remembered. He went to jot off a celebratory note to C with a light spirit. Part way through D realized he had forgotten the names of Carlo’s sons.
Don went to review past emails; he sat and struggled to recall those appellations. No. He felt stuck. Onward he went in the greeting and wished well to the sons generically.
Our hero knew the magic of shifting focus. He went on with some quiet time, putting attention on thoughts like Ernest Holmes says, “I know and understand that Good Alone is Real.”[2]
He breathed and felt good.
A bit later, Don looked again at past emails which might contain the names of C’s children. Know what? This time with his fresh perception, he found them easily: Evan and Aidan.
There are so many examples—wow! we use our focus all day long. Let’s raise our awareness of how we use it. We want to use our time more effectively, stay in the flow of life and enjoy more moments of our day.
Do you have illustrations of how you have wielded your focus to your benefit? Please comment and show us how!
[1] Gelb, Michael, How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci (New York, NY: Delacorte Press, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1998)
[2] Ernest Holmes, 365 Science of Mind Reader (New York: Jeremy P Tarcher/ Penguin, 2001)