Thoughts claim取去 our attention incessantly, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so used to this slavery, that we take it for granted 必然的, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions.
It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the constant onslaught of our though
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Look at the following familiar situation. You need to study something for your job or for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.
You return to read, and then hear people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.
After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.
When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything.
This is what happens when one lacks concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished, if you could control your attention and focus your mind!
Work that requires physical strength, such as carrying heavy loads for example, develops physical strength. Yet, it is not as exercising daily to the gym in a systematic manner. It is the same with concentration. Reading, studying and trying to pay attention to what we do, develop some of this ability, but practicing exercises diligently each day is something else, it is like training in a gym.
Inner resistance to developing concentration (Why do children reject the concentration work?)
Parents and teachers expect children to study, do their homework and get good grades. This brings up in the children a feeling of being coerced 迫使 and forced to do something they don't like doing. When they are too often told that they are not concentrating good enough, they develop a loathing反感 for concentration, and often for studying too. These become associated with coercion, lack of freedom, doing something they do not like to do, and which is against their will. When they grow up, it is no wonder that their powers of concentration are weak, and they have no desire to strain their minds.
Though most people acknowledge the fact that good concentration is a great asset, yet most of them do nothing to strengthen it, mostly because they don't know how. Reading and thinking about its benefits, and about the reasons why it should be cultivated, can help to change the attitude toward it.
Concentration can be fun if approached in the right way. It should be practiced with joy, fun, optimism樂觀心態, and understanding of its great possibilities. It has to be approached in a positive manner and then success dawns.
The benefits of developing concentration
Here is the list that you can gain by developing this power:
* Control of your thoughts.
* The ability to focus your mind.
* Peace of mind.
* Freedom from futile and annoying thoughts.
* The ability to choose your thoughts.
* Better memory.
* Self-confidence.
* Inner strength.
* Will power.
* Decisiveness.
* The ability to study and comprehend more quickly.
* Inner happiness.
* Enhanced capability to develop psychic abilities.
* More powerful and efficient use of creative visualization.
* Enhanced ability to meditate.
* And much more...
Sometimes you can find strong powers of concentration in yourself. When you really and earnestly want to excel in your studies, pass an important exam or solve a problem, this power becomes available to you. In such cases, it appears because of some need or desire, but developing it in a systematic way brings it under your control, and grants you the ability to use it intentionally, whenever you need it. To do so, you need to practice special exercises on a daily basis.
Seems too good to be true? Develop the power of concentration and find out for yourself!
Here are a few suggestions for developing and strengthening the power of attention.
* When reading a book, focus your eyes and mind on the words, and do not to think of anything not connected with what you are reading. Ignore outside noises and any irrelevant thoughts.
* Dress up, and at the same time put your whole attention on your movements.
While having a shower, pay attention to every part of the body that you are soaping and washing.
* When you clean the house, mow the grass or cook, concentrate on each act and movement, without daydreaming or thinking about something else.
* While working, focus your mind on what you are doing, as if it is the only important thing in the world, even if you do not like your job.
* While working up, walking or engaging in any kind of physical activity, don't daydream or think on whatever enters your mind. Instead, focus your attention on what you are doing.
* While conversing, listen attentively to what people are saying.
* While eating, focus your mind or your food and on enjoying it.
* Always do one thing at a time.
