The art of concentration

Concentration is something that we all want in every stage of life and in every field of life. Children need concentration for their studies; professional life demands concentration to achieve goals; driving, swimming, singing, speaking or even listening needs concentration. Lack of concentration makes you unable to give the best of your efforts.

WHAT IS CONCENTRATION?

Concentration cannot be forced or be separated from the task at hand. Concentration is a result or an outcome. The more you force yourself to concentrate, you will find it difficult even to remain focused. Concentration is the result of the mind feeling pleasure in doing something.

Have you noticed that you don’t need to concentrate when watching a film or playing game? People who like music or dance or painting or any form of art don’t have to force themselves. Those tasks automatically happen. When your mind finds something pleasurable, and it can be completely involved in the act, concentration comes to fruition. It cannot happen through imposed attention. Concentration is the result of immersion of the mind into something so that everything around you disappears.

HOW TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION?

The only way to achieve optimum concentration is to create interest in what you are doing. Interest would result in immersion of the mind. When there is no zest, the tasks become mundane and the mind wants to run in other directions. We all have seen that some children find studies to be very difficult whereas they are extremely good in sports or extracurricular activities. On the other hand, some children are very good at their studies. Their parents never have to ask the child to study. Why so?

It is important to understand that concentration is not an act. On the contrary, it is a product of getting joy in doing something. Learn to generate joy or make tasks entertaining in your own way so that your mind can remain focused on that. The joy of performing the tasks and even mundane workswill result in concentration. Joy may not be in the tasks. Joy is in the mind of the oer of tasks. If he doesn’t know how to create pleasure in doing something, then he will always dislike the job, and it will be a burden to him. When your mind is completely engrossed in something, you will see your concentration levels go up.

A set routine helps to improve willpower, and taking care of small details helps us to focus better. Also, loving what you do helps to boost concentration naturally. Don’t make improving concentration a priority, rather focus on enjoying the task.

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Center, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Email: kingston@jm.brahmakumaris.org. Or follow them on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica