We talked about intention. What about focus? How focused are you when it comes to doing a task?
Haven’t you gone to do something, and just not been in the mood? Worse yet, haven’t you tried to do something that required concentration, and just couldn’t get other things out of your mind? Now, to solve your concentration problems, the new, instant, Concentration Pill. Uhhh, no.
All too many times we are like a camera. We see what we need, but sometimes, we can’t focus on it. We keep thinking about other things. This used to happen a lot when I was programming, especially if I was going through a rough period. I’d start moving on the program I was working on for a couple minutes, then I’d think about something else. That in turn might make my thoughts stray elsewhere. Eventually, I’d get back to what I was supposed to be working on, only to find my thought processes gone and whatever plan I was working on out the window.
When they developed computers to the point that they could work on more than one thing at a time, they came up with a new term... multi-tasking. This is the ability to be processing more than one thing at a time, or to be working on more than one thing at a time. For the most part, we humans, multi-task. We think about, or do many things at a time (although I have seen several individuals that could not walk and chew gum at the same time). Unless we are truly focused, there is usually more than one thing going on in our heads at a time.
So, how do we regain focus? I thought you’d never ask. I have an exercise that I teach (and will put here) that lets one see what is going on, and then make it whole. It lets you see all of your current thoughts, and then combine them into one. Now, there are two ways of doing this. They both start out the same, but the gathering process is different. One needs to do the first way once before they can see doing the second.
Close your eyes and visualize yourself. If you look well, you will see smaller images of you around yourself. Each of these images is a current thought. Looking at myself right now as I type this, I can see several images floating around. One of these thoughts, these images, is thinking about my next client due in a little while. Another one is wondering what I’ll make for dinner when I get home. Yet another on is thinking about the Reiki 3 class I’ll be teaching this weekend. Another still (yes, I have lots of thoughts going on at once) is wondering how much response I will be getting for the Reiki 2 class in three weeks. You get the idea?
Process 1 - You have noted all the images floating around you. Physically take one hand and reach out to one of the thoughts, grab it, and pull it into your center (two inches below your naval). Once there, release it to go into your center. Now reach out to another one, and do the same thing. Continue doing this until all stray thoughts are combined in your center.
Process 2 - This method is a bit more eloquent than the previous method, and much easier, but one needs to do the first method once to get a feel for the entire process. To do this method, start with your hands by your sides. You have noted all the images floating around you. Extend your energies from your fingertips, creating an extension of your fingers. Move your arms out to your sides in an arc sweeping all the images of you with it as it goes. Continue this until your hands come together over your head, at which point you will have gathered all of the images (stray thoughts) within your hands and arms. Bring your hands down to your center, and release the stray thoughts there. (Note: It is all too easy to stop at the height of your heart. This is the greeting, Namaste. Instead of stopping, continue to your center.)
By the time you have finished either of these methods, you should have your entire focus, and be centered on one thing. Ok, now that you have focused, take the picture.