One word, Two ways: Focus

Every week we pick a word and both write about that word. The word this week is Focus.

For the past decade, every time I really need to focus on something I listen to either the Amelie Soundtrack or Mum.

Both of these albums have become such a part of me, and my mind is conditioned to focus on my given intention as soon as either comes on. These are two of my favorite songs:

Amelie Soundtrack – La Valse D’ Amelie

Mum – We Have A Map Of The Piano

Another album that I have recently started to listen to a lot when I’m focusing on cleaning, moving, writing, thinking and sleeping is Monster Rally, Coral II Remixes.

I also have to add that this word, focus, has made me realize that sometimes I also like being out of focus.

The concept of having a singular focus has always been one which evades me.  I have never had the mind of say an academic who is endlessly interested in a particular matter, continuously stimulated to examine and re-examine one subject.  The world has always made more sense to me when looked at with a broad focus.

I have been thinking about the relationship between a person’s focus and perspective.  The ways in which one focuses the mind is completely intertwined with the ways in which one views and experiences everything else.  Yoga teaches us how to focus the mind on the current moment by controlling the breath.  Total concentration on the inhale, followed by total concentration on the exhale.  This is quite a difficult thing to achieve.  And what does it say about the value between taking a broad vs. narrow focus?

Then I remember another of yoga’s teachings: be where you are, it is right where you should be. Don’t force anything. Show up and breath and sharpen your focus, whatever its nature.  It’s time for me to get back to this.  Less focusing on what I should do and more just doing it.

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