Attention Cleanse

Last week I participated in a workshop all about my attention and what I do with it. In the first couple of days I had a good idea that what I always talk about doing, I in fact was not practicing anywhere near as I thought I was.

It’s such a simple concept. What we think about is what what we create, we become, and where we spend our most precious time. There are numerous examples of how people who became famous, or professional athletes, or did something quite profound first envisioned it, then kept envisioning it until it became reality.  It is what held the attention of these people.

Where Is Attention Rooted?

The photo above was taken while I was actively doing my attention detox, a brilliant course lived and implemented by Gwen Bell.

These people have come to Hawaii on vacation.  On holiday from regular life. A time designated to rejuvenate, to enjoy, to indulge in pleasure. And yet, check out the people in the photo. Their chairs are facing away from the ocean. These women had their phones in their hand either texting, web surfing, or talking almost the entire time. They were connected quite strongly to the very things most of which were sounding quite negative going on back at home.

Their attention was not on enjoyment, pleasure, taking it all in. Their attention was not soaking up rest and peace and harmony here for them to fully have right there in the moment. Instead the attention let them continue to live the very problems they had come to take a break from, while sitting on a beautiful beach in Hawaii.

Attention Cleanse

Again, this sounds so simple, yet when I tried it the complications became apparent. When I say complications, I mean not only was there excuses about why I couldn’t check in every half hour, but there were complications in what I wanted to write down because I realized what I thought I was thinking about was completely different than what I actually had going around in my head on many occasions.

I found out that the reflection of dislike is going on for real in me and I didn’t like it. So it was hard to keep going for 7 solid days checking in about where my attention was every half of the day. What was even harder was then attaching two words to describe where my attention was.

What I was feeling.

And what I was needing.

That was the hard part, but indeed it was the part that made me admit that doubt and anger are where I spend more attention than I ever thought I did. And when I switch that attention to all the great things I already have and all the great things I want to do, my whole attitude changes.

I have been spending more of my attention than I thought just like those in the photo. Attaching my attention to something that I make come alive right before me, even though what I have right in front of me is beautiful and full of all the opportunity in the world to live a creative, happy, pleasurable life, I’ve been missing way more of it than I should with fears and anger from the past.

I’m changing that by continuing this practice as a habit, only I check in 4 times a day.  This week has been much different already.

Try the Attention Cleanse

Habits come by practicing often. Habits also come by going at them in smaller pieces than achieving your hopeful end result in just a few days or weeks, which is sure RX for failure. Therefore what I’m going to suggest you do is a smaller chunk to do than what I jumped into every 30 minutes of the day. Taking the time to write where my attention was that often did in fact need support from someone who was checking in to remind me as well as make some valid observations.  She does what I do and I find if the teacher doesn’t practice herself, life changing coaching for others isn’t possible.

In that light take this exercise in a smaller chunk and sit down after dinner or before you go to bed for 7 days in a row and write down where you remember you attention being focused throughout the day. What were you feeling and what were you needing around where you find your attention to be?

Like I said it’s not as easy as it sounds. I am here if you need help with this new habit.

Mahalo for reading.  If you liked it please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter, & G+ and please leave a few of your thoughts in the comments.

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.