"For the first time in our history we are becoming
neurotically impatient. We?re becoming socially
dysfunctional. We have cell phones attached to our
ears.? So stated acclaimed mentalist and entertainer
the Amazing Kreskin in a recent interview. Kreskin
once predicted that, ?Americans would become an
attention-deficit disordered culture that is all about
immediate gratification.?
Kreskin is not the only figure who has voiced
concerned about how technological advances may be
diminishing our capacity for the absolutely essential
mental talents of focus, patience and concentration.
A continous stream of info can overwhelm our ability
to distinguish between the important and the trivial,
eventually causing us to tune out. In addition, the
unrelenting stimulation these tools supply can
condition us to expect that the pace of life should
also always be rapid and instantaneous, which is
simply unrealistic. True mastery of anything
worthwhile involves focused and determined effort
whether it is in education, work, sports or the
arts.
This situation is not unlike how labor-saving
devices like the automobile have contributed to an
overall decrease in physical fitness levels. However,
just as some people choose to maintain excellent
physical condition, mental fitness can also be chosen
and cultivated.
As mentioned previously, focus, patience and
concentration are necessary for success in almost
any aspect of life. These mental skills are also the
cornerstones of active listening skills, essential for
good personal relationships. Perhaps you?ve heard of
how people with magnetic personalities have a knack
of making you feel like you were the only person in
the room? Well, who would be attracted to someone
who seems to be focused everywhere and anywhere
except the HERE and NOW?
There are simple action steps you can take to
safeguard your ability to focus, these include:
- Arrange set times away from mass media and
communications technology. Although they have their
useful and rightful place, over usage just leads to
further distractibility. Consider spending more time in
a place of natural beauty like a beach or park.
- Practice active listening with those people you
really care about. Truly LISTEN without judging or
forming a rebuttal. This is an amazing gift to give to
another person as it makes him or her feel truly
valued, unfortunately it has also become quite
rare.
- Practice self-hypnosis or meditation daily, it helps
to maintain healthy brain-wave activity.
- Stimulate your psyche with new challenges like
studying an unfamiliar subject. Select activities that
force you into a meditative "single point of
attention."
- Remember to BREATHE, RELAX and BE in the
present moment, make a habit of it.
As the wonderful old saying goes, ?Yesterday is
history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift,
that?s why it?s called the PRESENT.?
