Focus and Concentration
One thing I encounter in a variety of ways with my students, hypnotherapy clients, and in particular the hypnotherapists that I mentor is that they have a lot of goals that they wish to achieve. Typically, they give me a long, long list of all the things they wish to do and achieve, and I feel tired and overwhelmed reading it, let alone attempting to guide them to achieve it
all.
Without guidance, often these people take a small bite out of each of those many goals each day and ultimately make very little progress, despite working very hard. They can end up demoralised as a result of the lack of achievement. They
get mega busy, but are not productive. They lack focus.
We therefore narrow things down to the most important goals and we then concentrate and focus on the plan of action to work through each of those
goals methodically.
I often make reference to the 1980s film, the Karate Kid.
The star of the film, Daniel, moves to a new town and is bullied.
During one ordeal with the bullies, Daniel is rescued by Mr Miyagi who uses Karate to send the bullies fleeing. Daniel asks for training from Mr Myagi who agrees and tells Daniel to turn up at his house the following day. Daniel
turns up expecting to learn karate in a particular way, but his expectations are dashed when Mr Myagi gets him waxing his car in a very particular manner. Daniel is a bit miffed, but waxes his car using the technique as instructed and then Mr Myagi sends him home. T
he next two days are the same, with Daniel being shown
how to paint Mr Myagi’s fence, and sand his floor. Eventually Daniel erupts with emotion and angrily tells Mr Myagi that he is not here for slave labour and has not learned a thing. Mr Myagi then throws punches at him and asks Daniel to do his ‘wax on’ move to block the punch, as well as his sanding and painting moves – he realises, he learned
a great deal.
He just needed to focus on the component parts of his training and ease away from the big picture from time to time. Without wanting to ruin the film for those of you who have not seen it, he does go on to become Daniel-Son.
The big goals in life are what we want, but the actions required on a daily basis to make solid measurable progress towards them require focus and concentration.
The skill of focus and concentration is incredibly important in and of itself as I’ve explained. Additionally though, in many cases advanced concentration and focus can help us to add more value to a task that is being completed.
Researchers also believe that focusing on a singular task enables a person to get the task completed quicker, as it reduces the “switching costs” involved with transferring from one task to another task. It also helps us to achieve much higher levels of creativity and
innovation when dedicated to one particular task/outcome.
“My key to dealing with stress is simple: just stay cool and stay focused” —- Ashton Eaton
Is it as easy as that quote insinuates?
Focus and concentration can be difficult to master.
Sure, most people want to learn how to improve focus and boost concentration. But actually doing it? We live in a noisy world and constant distractions can make focus difficult. As with most things I write about though, focus and concentration can be developed as with many skills. So this week, I wrote the following two articles that I recommend you read in order and they’ll ensure you develop focus and concentration to really nail your
goals….
Focus and concentration have been incredibly important to me this year as I have switched from running to weight lifting for a period of time.
My body is changing greatly and my quarterly goals have been exceeded in ways I never would have imagined. I thought I would hold myself accountable and walk my talk on this subject and so last Friday, I published a video clip of me squatting 25kg higher than my quarterly goal that I set at the start of the year, and I plan to go on much further and heavier in that regard.
if you’d like to see my squat and me doing a casual clean lift, then visit this article:
That is it for this week’s edition of Adam Up.
I am off for the next 4 days to have some time with my family, whether you are celebrating or not, I wish you a wonderful few days, I’ll be back after the Easter Monday Bank Holiday.
