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Where's Your Focus?
Mar. 24th, 2010 06:55 amThis morning, I woke up thinking about my focus. Most of the time, I focus on whatever is immediately around me. If I have a good day at work, I focus on the day's successes and I feel good. It's easy to build on that happy feeling and push forward towards something else I want----something that also feels good.
But if I have a bad day, or something happens that's frustrating or sad, it's easy to focus on that as well. Then one thing tends to build on another as I obsess, and I feel worse and worse.
For most of us, it's unusual to break the cycle or step in and take command of this unconscious process. But we are creative beings: we bring new works of art to life all the time. Yet why do we so rarely look at our own lives as the art that matters?
Just as I create a workshop or a class, so too can I create huge parts of my own life. If I so choose, I can spend some time every day exploring the previously unimagined possibilities that exist before me. Do I want to live here or somewhere else? Do I want to learn a new hobby? Can I imagine myself skydiving, sculpting or salsa dancing?
Most of the time, we don't even try to use our imaginations to explore all the amazing possibilities that could open up our lives. Most of the time, we stay firmly, doggedly focused on whatever is---especially of we don't like it.
But how can we experience anything new if we can't even imagine it? Experience follows focus. Most of the time, we end up doing whatever we think about doing the most, and we end up (re) experiencing whatever we obsess about the most.
I've often thought that the Buddhist practice of mindfulness meditation is a good one. It is important to truly experience what is.
But it is also important to open up to new thoughts and new possibilities, especially if they can guide us where we might want to go.
Here's your challenge for the day: find a new focus. If something frustrates you, acknowledge that fact, take a deep breath, and let it go. Instead of obsessing, use your creative power to imagine something different. Ask yourself---what else would I really like to explore? Where else would I like my life to go? Then for three or four minutes, let your imagination roll. Allow it to unfold new possibilities, new ideas and new directions to explore.
After all, your life usually follows your focus. Why not focus on something new, something strong and something good?
But if I have a bad day, or something happens that's frustrating or sad, it's easy to focus on that as well. Then one thing tends to build on another as I obsess, and I feel worse and worse.
For most of us, it's unusual to break the cycle or step in and take command of this unconscious process. But we are creative beings: we bring new works of art to life all the time. Yet why do we so rarely look at our own lives as the art that matters?
Just as I create a workshop or a class, so too can I create huge parts of my own life. If I so choose, I can spend some time every day exploring the previously unimagined possibilities that exist before me. Do I want to live here or somewhere else? Do I want to learn a new hobby? Can I imagine myself skydiving, sculpting or salsa dancing?
Most of the time, we don't even try to use our imaginations to explore all the amazing possibilities that could open up our lives. Most of the time, we stay firmly, doggedly focused on whatever is---especially of we don't like it.
But how can we experience anything new if we can't even imagine it? Experience follows focus. Most of the time, we end up doing whatever we think about doing the most, and we end up (re) experiencing whatever we obsess about the most.
I've often thought that the Buddhist practice of mindfulness meditation is a good one. It is important to truly experience what is.
But it is also important to open up to new thoughts and new possibilities, especially if they can guide us where we might want to go.
Here's your challenge for the day: find a new focus. If something frustrates you, acknowledge that fact, take a deep breath, and let it go. Instead of obsessing, use your creative power to imagine something different. Ask yourself---what else would I really like to explore? Where else would I like my life to go? Then for three or four minutes, let your imagination roll. Allow it to unfold new possibilities, new ideas and new directions to explore.
After all, your life usually follows your focus. Why not focus on something new, something strong and something good?
