Embracing the Science of Focus

It’s not true that lack of focus is inevitable and can keep us from achieving all we can in life. Just because we sometimes feel overwhelmed from the distractions and volumes of material that comes to us from television, computers and other devices doesn’t mean that we must focus on our goals. A few decades ago, focusing may have been easier because there was a definite shortage of information we could access. News from other parts of the world had to wait until someone brought it word-of-mouth on horseback or ship. Now, we have instantaneous access to details that bombard us 24/7 unless we isolate ourselves. Google and Amazon bring the world to our doorsteps and our cellphones are libraries of valuable information. The world now offers multitudes of distractions and unless we understand the science of focus, it’s difficult to focus on tasks that can improve our quality of life and bring us to ultimate success. The science of focus now involves that we must develop cognitive skills that help us to control our thoughts and impulses. You’ve likely practiced this skill when you’ve turned down a sugary delight that would have ruined your diet – or stuck to a reading assignment when you’d rather watch television. These mental talents are a result of practice and sometimes take years to develop. Studies have shown that when children are taught to control their impulses and attention spans, they are better able to cope with life and have a much better chance of becoming successful. In many instances, those who developed the skills to focus become much more successful than those with higher IQs or those with more socioeconomic advantages. When children are taught at an early age to control and develop their abilities to focus, it can boost their mental skills considerably. There are activities and practices that we can engage in that will help us with our focusing powers. Developing computer skills, short term memory skills, yoga and the discipline of tae-kwan-do can significantly boost our essential mental skills. With the onslaught of information and distractions that we experience today, our minds can’t possibly focus as we once did. Skills and activities that will boost and empower us to focus must be learned and developed. Understanding and developing focus skills can bring an enormous amount of energy into anything we do. For more information, check out online sites, books and other sources.