Focus: it’s something we all need, but it’s not something we always practice.

Although it is often necessary to succeed in the practice of life, focus is something that many consider optional. With our phones in our pocket, and the world at our fingertips, we live in an environment where focus is becoming more and more difficult. However, this does not mean that being focused is a lost cause. Even for the most distracted individual, focus is something that can be honed and improved with the right skill set.

“Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.” – Paolo Coelho

Bringing Focus Through Mindfulness

But what is mindfulness? For the uninitiated, mindfulness is the practice of putting one’s self in the present moment. That means letting go of our attachments to the future, leaving the past behind, and giving the entirety of your attention to the here and now. Mindfulness has been prescribed by monks, sages, alchemists, and mental health professionals for thousands of years. If you take nothing else away from this article, remember that mindfulness can ease your anxiety, de-escalate your intense emotions, and yes, even help you focus. 

Focusing On Where You’re At 

Focus is a powerful tool. With complete focus, it’s like the rest of the world melts away, and all that’s left is the present moment. But complete focus might not always be readily available, or even possible in the wrong circumstances. After all, if there’s a baby crying in the other room, a friend that needs consoling, or any other pressing matter of a personal sort, then it would require powerful self-hypnosis for many of us to get hyper-focused in that situation. So as you learn to hone your focus, be mindful of where you’re at in your journey, and be patient with yourself. 

Cleaning The Soot Out Of Your Mind

The things that hold us back from focus are the same things that hold us back, period. We all have certain stories, hang-ups, and traumas in our past that unfocus, distract, and upset us. If left unhealed, the soot in our mind can distract us from even the things we truly value and enjoy. It is possible for you to heal your mind and to develop healthier thought patterns that will create new neural pathways in your brain. How it works is when you behave a certain way, neurons light up in your brain and create grooves in the brain that are like little pathways. The more you reinforce positivity to yourself, the more times that healthy thought pattern and behavior will travel down the neural pathway, which eventually makes your positivity second nature and gets you out of limiting thought patterns. This is simple, but not easy, and requires resilience and discipline. J.P. Horgan talks about forming new neural pathways and developing resilience in his mini-course, “The Power of Resilience”, which you can check out here.

“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.” – Pema Chödrön

Healing is easier said than done. It takes time, patience, and wisdom, which doesn’t come naturally to all of us. Personally, I would’ve never sorted through the things I needed to on my own. That’s why I needed a guide. 

Finding Your Focus With The Right Teacher

The right guide at the right time can make all the difference in the world. When you’re traveling through uncertain territory, there is nothing more vital than proper guidance. Finding your guide can be an intensive and difficult process. The team at Integrative Counsel would like to make it easier for you by matching you up with the right-fit therapist in the St Petersburg, Florida area. Our counselors are trained in art therapy and somatic, body-informed therapy. Let us help you get where you want to go and assist you on Your Journey. 

 If you feel stuck on your healing journey, working with a therapist can help. Based on your needs, our intake specialist will help you get matched up with your perfect therapist. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.