According to Daniel Goleman, to form attention, we must focus on two dimensions that we can identify as internal and external.
In a world so full of stimuli, pressures and demands, Goleman says that we neglect the inner universe in which our feelings, fears and needs reside, and we also forget to pay attention to the most important aspects of our environment.
- Concentrate.
- Respond.
- Connect.
- Discern.
- Focus and pay attention.
- All these processes are fundamental in our day to day to know how to make the most of our reality.
- Let us think about it for a moment.
- Dimensions such as stress.
- Anxiety or depression are states in which our gaze becomes blurry.
- Confusing details with the superfluous.
When the brain keeps our senses alert, linked to various stimuli, in the face of a thousand thoughts, sensations, emotions and concerns, the world becomes chaotic. No one can be productive in a similar environment; Besides, no one will be happy in a saturated microuniverse in which light cannot enter.
Daniel Goleman wrote Foco in 2013 with the same goal: to teach us to draw attention to get out of this maze of chaos and suffering. In a world of distraction, we are forced to look back, shut up and focus on what is really worth it. That.
“Without selective attention, experience would be a complete chaos. “- Daniel Goleman-
To get attention, according to Daniel Goleman, one important point must be identified: attention, like most of our basic psychological processes, is like a muscle, benefits from training.
If we exercise it daily with will and determination, we will gain in well-being, so the secret is to be aware of this need, we say it by a very striking fact that happens frequently.
Our electronic devices are increasingly equipped with greater “intelligence”. Our mobile phones and computers are gradually replacing many of the processes we used to do mentally ourselves.
We are so un accustomed to these devices that our generation is almost exclusively linked to them, and not to the scenarios that Daniel Goleman defines as the most important: our interior and our most significant social context.
Gradually neglecting these spheres, but “infecting”? At the same time with so many stimuli, information, pressure and data, we end up exhausted. What about what we call a ‘supercognitive effort’? It’s similar to when we make a great physical effort: we can’t give more of ourselves and we weaken.
Similarly, this exhaustion makes us more vulnerable to multiple negative feelings: stress, anxiety?Let’s see what practices or strategies can help us get attention.
William James is one of the most prominent figures in the history of modern psychology, in his day he defined attention in a correct and inspiring way: it is the taking of possession by the mind in a clear and living way of one of the different objects or chains of thoughts simultaneously possible.
Attention training involves the practice of self-control, we have so many stimuli around us and so many ideas, thoughts and sensations that, little by little, the mind becomes more erratic, less focused.
A study conducted at Pennsylvania State University in the United States by Dr. Heather A. Wadlinger revealed that attention is directly related to emotions and, therefore, by taking care of the first dimension we improve the second dimension, but how can we do that?
The recipe for self-control to get attention and regulate emotions according to Daniel Goleman implies mindfulness, so in his book The Art of Meditation, he teaches us how to do it and what benefits we can derive from the ancient meditation exercise.
Whoever walks in his day-to-day life disconnected from his inner reality ends up missing out, sooner or later, people who fail to connect with what really matters and what he really values around him lose their quality of life and their happiness.
Do you like what you do in your daily life? This is one of the questions Daniel Goleman askes us in his book Focus, what the famous author of Emotional Intelligence points out to us is that people spend much of their time upset or stressed.
The simple fact that we do not find meaning or purpose in our lives weakens our attention, there is nothing motivating, there are no stimuli, and the brightness of everyday life that makes us more creative and that looks at what interests us loses its strength.
Sometimes we tend to give in to reality and reject the idea of imposing our preferences, we don’t always have the opportunity to have a passionate job or a routine full of good stimuli, however, there better be shine. We must have goals, hobbies that we love, people who give us energy and joy in our lives.
Goals help us focus our attention. Similarly, an emotional state of support also promotes better management of care resources.
These are undoubtedly small aspects that we must think about to improve our quality of life, let us do it, draw our attention, making sure that we do not lose the illusion for who we are and have.