Mindfulness is a psychological process of bringing attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. This can be developed through mental discipline, negative ego clearing, and through the practice of Meditation. Mindfulness is derived from Sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions, and based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques.
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few
Shunryu Suzuki
Single-mindedness
Being Singe Minded is all to do with the power of focus. Our ability to focus is essentially what will determine our ability to accomplish a task. Our level of achievement in accomplishing a task will depend on our level of competence to focus. Anyone can refine this ability with practice.
Definition of Single-mindedness:
- Being Determined
- Having one overriding purpose or goal
- Being Steadfast or Resolute
Definition of Focus:
- The ability to give something full attention
- Concentration of attention or energy on something
- To bring something into view
The Opposite of Focus:
- To be absent-minded
- Having scattered thoughts
- Being distracted from what is intended
Positive and Negative Polarity
As with everything, there are positive and negative aspects of single-mindedness too. If someone is so preoccupied with a task that they lose all sense of their responsibilities and accountability to others, this is clearly a form of negative single-mindedness. Such a personality is identified with being negatively self-centred and self obsessed and someone who is unaware and/or uncaring toward things or people they are impacting negatively around them. This can also show up as compulsive and obsessive behaviour, an extreme of which can be seen with people who are mentally ill or mentally challenged, repeating the same movements over and over again and over an extended period of time. These behaviours illustrate the opposite of focus definitions.
The positive form of single-mindedness is the ability to block out distractions and erroneous or negative thoughts in order to concentrate better. A person who is positively demonstrating single-mindedness, is the sort of personality type that sets a task and achieves it. The more accomplished a person is at embodying positive single-mindedness, the faster and more efficiently they will be at achieving a set task.
Developing Focus Power
Defining the steps involved in developing focus power is the first part of this process:
- Step 1 – Environment
- Step 2 – Intention
- Step 3 – Set and Setting
- Step 4 – Practice
After a Task is set and in order to focus our attention to complete the task, we can follow this sequence of Steps.
Step 1 – Environment
We create the right environment. If the task involves working at a desk, we should prepare that area. Clean the area around the desk and the desk itself, Make sure we have the things we need to do the task efficiently and comfortably, The computer or lap top or note pad or whatever tool we are doing the work on, the right equipment like pens, lighting, chair, and so on. If it’s the task to stop smoking, this also starts with creating the environment. We should get rid of all the things associated with smoking, not just the tobacco but the ashtrays and lighters too.
Step 2 – Intention
This is more than just setting the goal. Intention involves really tapping in to why we have set the task, what we want to achieve from completing the task, and what form the positive gain from achieving the task will be. This is followed up with confirming and affirming it to our self and picturing the general end result. Such as the finished work project and the sense of achievement, or becoming a non-smoker and the health and financial benefits, or establishing a new fitness or meditation routine and the benefits we are intending to obtain from that, and so on.
Step 3 – Set and Setting
Set and Setting is about the optimum external conditions that will best assist our inner set intentions. So if it is an office based project, we need the right office environment. It’s no good having a clean and tidy desk, the comfy chair, and right lap top, if the setting of them is in the middle of the living room with kids running around and a blaring t.v. or stereo blasting out noise. Or if the task is smoking, hanging around in parks or the gym is going to be preferable to spending time in bars and clubs or anywhere more smokers may be gathered.
Step 4 – Practice
Positive repetition by making a set time to do a task or sticking to the new routine to maintain a change of behaviour, is going to help establish a way to practise focus on any actions required to achieve the task. To ensure the repetition or practice stays positive and remains an aid to our task, we should be realistic and yet disciplined with this step. Not working too long in the office and ensuring we take regular breaks for example. If it’s stopping smoking, we can focus on a new practise, action, or behaviour pattern at the times we were most likely to smoke.
Controllers v Power In Now
These Steps are designed to develop focus. It is the commitment to them through strength of character and strength of will power, that will ultimately determine the completion of the task.
Disciplining our mind to remain in the present moment is Mindfulness. Mastering our own Mindfulness and the Power of Focus is crucial in the bigger picture of the ongoing battle with the negative forces vying for control of consciousness and our planet. However those forces pushing the Control Agenda have absolutely zero, nada, zilch, control over us if we are not in their frequency range. Not succumbing to the consciousness traps existing outside the moment is what is going to keep us out of the low frequencies and their related playing field, and in the higher frequencies that ride us right on past them.
See Also:
The Black And White Cow 