How to improve concentration: A critical life skill

Why is it critical and why is it a skill?

Critical, because it is essential to effective action. Our thoughts naturally wander. The more we “have on our mind” the greater the potential for day-dreaming and associative mind-chatter that shanghai our attention. This sabotages our effectiveness and efficiency in whatever task we are ostensibly out to accomplish.

Does this sound familiar?

So Concentration has always been a critical life skill. Has it become more critical in recent years?

Is it possible that modern technology has developed tools that, in fact, encourage decreased attention span? Just consider the length of video shots in music clips, or even on the news. I feel that the shots come at me – well, as if they are indeed being shot at me. Come to think of it, I think they used to be called “scenes”….

And is it also possible that we live in a world of constant stress that vastly exceeds what our previous generations experienced, except, perhaps, in times of extreme crisis such as war.

In my view, the answer to each of these questions is a resounding yes.

Now consider this, our human brain has two information processors – that are always working, preferably together.

One is sequential and logical, which means that it abides by Newton’s Law of Physics that decreed “no two things can occupy the same space at the same time”.

1. 

   A slight glimpse at what we take for granted...

1. This has been scientifically and physically identified with the “left brain”, known also as the logical, analytic brain.
2. Since it works one step at a time, it is relatively slow.
3. This is closest to consciousness and cognition, since it uses words – those labels we find useful to communicate with – like the article you are reading now.

The other is parallel, meaning that it can process many many many bits of information at (almost) the same time, but there is not necessarily any order.

1. This has been scientifically and physically identified with the “right brain”, also known as the feeling, emotional, intuitive brain.
2. The speed here is much greater than the parallel brain
3. Much of what goes on here can go unnoticed by our consciousness because of the speed. The languages that the right brain uses are:
   

• pictures or images,
• feelings and
• patterns.

To sum up, then, the logical and intuitive mind

• work at different speeds,
• process information differently and
• speak different languages, but,
• serve us best when they work together.

This apparent paradox presents a challenge and an opportunity to living successfully in the modern world.

The good news is that science has begun recognizing the crucial role of intuition in creativity.

Inroads are being made to harness the

incredible power of intuition,

when paired with the

impeccable precision of the intellect –

that together are the human mind.

And yes, concentration is a skill that can be mastered.

We know today, that concentration capacity is very flexible. We can improve it through a wide range of exercises with which we train our minds to serve us better. Or we can sit idly by as negligence and time take their toll on this most precious distinguishing quality of humanity.

See how important cultivating the physical brain is to improve concentration here.