The Way We Are Working Isnt Working: Exercises CH One: Mental Self Expression

The third core need Tony shares is the need for Mental Self Expression. Freedom to develop and express our unique skills and talent. He talks about self expression an being fueled by the capacity to control the placement of out attention and to focus on ONE THING AT A TIME. Do we have wide or narrow focus? Do we get absorbed or distracted easily?

Negative
• On the distracted side is the reactive zone characterized by: shallow, inefficient, impulsive, shortsighted, and intermittent.
• On the distracted side there is also the scattered zone characterized by: spacey, zoned out, indiscriminative, diffuse, overwhelmed

Positive
• On the absorbed side is the tactical zone characterized by: logical, analytical, task-oriented, precise, methodical.
• On the absorbed side is the big-picture zone characterized by: intuitive, open-ended, imaginative, playful, metaphorical.

My unique skills and talents:
Coaching
Training
Listening
Playing Music
Meditating
Thai Yoga
Caring

So back to the initial question:

How well am I able to focus? Where do I feel I am falling short? What are the costs to me and others in my life?

How well am I able to focus? Where is my capacity to control the placement of out attention and to focus on ONE THING AT A TIME?

I am pretty good at this. I discovered the idea of single focused attention in Tony’s book the Power Of Full Engagement. He suggests expending energy for 60-120 minutes then disengage completely. Get recovery. I have since altered my life to move between periods of work and rest. My sweet spot is 90 minutes. Then I break for 5-15 minutes before diving into the next sprint. I learned this ritual before FACEBOOK. I recognize that I can allow unconscious time on-line to expend to infinity UNLESS I take conscious control and place my attention where I want it followed by actions in alignment with what I say is important. I have started a time log that I place near my computer to hold me accountable to my commitment to only spend 30-45 minutes per day engaged in the wonder lust of FACEBOOK.

Even right now I have a timer running that I set for 30 minutes with 24:27 to go to work on this journal entry.

I believe meditation and other concentration exercises have helped me build my ability to focus my attention where I want it when I want it. For me the ritual of mediation supports me in stilling my mind, purposefully placing my body and mind where and when I want and just watch my breath, watch my thoughts. In doing so after a time I am more and more capable of observing myself from outside my self. This builds my awareness about me and once I am aware of something I can have more choice about how to engage with myself.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Concentration-Exercises-for-Meditation&id=395112


This 90 minute sprint concept is echoed by Parkinson's Law: Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. So if there is no container created for the work (fbook time, prospecting, bill paying, doing taxes…) it will expand to infinity and we will deplete ourselves. No thanks!


Do we have wide or narrow focus?

I have both a mirco and macro view. I ask myself regularly, “Now what needs to be done?” This pertains to my daily weekly monthly goals. If feel if I ask this question regularly with the intention of where I am going I am in effect keeping my eyes on the road vs. on then prize vs. looking at only the destination. If I were to travel to NY and just look at the destination with out keeping my eyes on the road I’d be in trouble.

I hold a fairly cosmic perspective on the wide side that keeps me engaged in the mystery of life. This is where the study of metaphysics helps. In this course of study I am able to cultivate intuition, imagination, and be playful (hooray for merry-go-rounds)

Do we get absorbed or distracted easily?

I get less and less distracted these days. It still happens from time to time and it is usually when I have not honored the rituals that I know serve my energy management and focus. I’d like to get more and more absorbed in music. When I am in this zone time stops and energy is raging. I have not been practicing like I know serves me. This is a huge source of good mojo for me.

I had a practice of playing 20 min three times per week. Time to get on that again.

4 min 41 seconds remaining. :)