On changing one's focus

[Criseyde]

My personal goal for the summer is to change my focus.

My focus has always been on analysis. I do it to myself, to events, to other people, to my relationships, to world affairs... I even graduated cum laude with a degree in it: English Literature.

My new focus is going to be on creation. I don't just want to create things like writing and gainful employment for myself (although I do want to do those things), I also want to create excitement and adventure and Really Wild Things for me and for everyone else in my life.

The first thing I am going to look at is my thought patterns. It seems like focus is pretty habitual, so I'm going to need to be aware of my thinking and remind myself what to focus on. I'm not going to stop analyzing, I'm just going to remind myself not to spend a lot of time "analyzing" (read: obsessing over) things that are not helping me create what I want, or are actually doing the opposite.

I might use this thread for journaling purposes; I haven't decided yet. BUT, personal success stories/ideas/tips/questions/answers/profound jewels of wisdom are totally welcome! And anyone who wants to join me and post in this thread about their focus-changing goals is totally welcome to do that as well.

[zeitgeist]

The word mindfulness comes to mind. Can thought patterns really be observed, let alone controlled as some people claim? Perhaps the voice inside yourself that gets exited about your new focus is still the analyzer? I had to smile a little when you defined your 'summer project'.There are some who devote their life to the path of mindfulness.

In any case, I wish you all the best with your project; perhaps you can give us some progress updates from time to time.

Zeitgeist

[royster]

The first thing I am going to look at is my thought patterns.

You've already succeeded!

[ZephyrusX]

Good luck and have fun

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

My personal goal for the summer is to change my focus.

My focus has always been on analysis. I do it to myself, to events, to other people, to my relationships, to world affairs... I even graduated cum laude with a degree in it: English Literature.

My new focus is going to be on creation. I don't just want to create things like writing and gainful employment for myself (although I do want to do those things), I also want to create excitement and adventure and Really Wild Things for me and for everyone else in my life.

The first thing I am going to look at is my thought patterns. It seems like focus is pretty habitual, so I'm going to need to be aware of my thinking and remind myself what to focus on. I'm not going to stop analyzing, I'm just going to remind myself not to spend a lot of time "analyzing" (read: obsessing over) things that are not helping me create what I want, or are actually doing the opposite.

I might use this thread for journaling purposes; I haven't decided yet. BUT, personal success stories/ideas/tips/questions/answers/profound jewels of wisdom are totally welcome! And anyone who wants to join me and post in this thread about their focus-changing goals is totally welcome to do that as well.

Questions are the ultimate way to change one's focus. The ability to focus
basically depends on learning how to ask the right questions on a regular
basis. Without this skill, evolving one's ability to focus is close to zero.

I just started a thread in this sub-forum:

Will the real GURU please stand up

In it, I explain a philosophy of asking three simple questions, the questions
all creators ask:

#1...What do I want to create?

#2...What is my current reality in reality to this creation?

#3...What are the action step that I must take to bring what I want to create
into reality?

Simple and Effective. Artists have been using it ever since cavemen started
to draw pictures on cave walls

[Criseyde]

Thanks for your responses, everyone.

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Questions are the ultimate way to change one's focus. The ability to focus
basically depends on learning how to ask the right questions on a regular
basis. Without this skill, evolving one's ability to focus is close to zero.

I just started a thread in this sub-forum:

Will the real GURU please stand up

In it, I explain a philosophy of asking three simple questions, the questions
all creators ask:

#1...What do I want to create?

#2...What is my current reality in reality to this creation?

#3...What are the action step that I must take to bring what I want to create
into reality?

Simple and Effective. Artists have been using it ever since cavemen started
to draw pictures on cave walls

I really like this approach.

I was going to write something about questions in my original post, but I guess I forgot. I've determined what I want to create in a couple different situations. When I find myself doing or thinking something that feels bad or counterproductive, I've been asking myself:

Is this habit [of mind/of being] serving me?
What would it look like/how would I feel if I were focusing on something that did serve this purpose?
How can I do that now?

I'll probably add more as I think of them.

[alexplatups]

Just wanted to mention that question #2, is the most important, because we,
as humans, are REALLY untrained is accurately observing current reality. In art
school, art teachers have a very difficult time teaching students to separate
concept from reality.

What most students draw are their concepts, that they impose on reality.

A concept is what we think (or imagine) reality should look like. And instead
of looking and observing reality as it is, we impose the concept, and see this
image created by our imagination. We become hypnotyzed by these concepts
and with age it gets worse and worse. The majority of people are steeped in
concepts, and the interesting thing is that a concept is considered the enemy
of observing reality only in the world of arts.

In all the other domains where we humans exist concept is considered to be
a good thing. Even science has been hypnotyzed by concepts for many
years, and are banging their head against the wall, not being able to
move forward and evolve. The majority of scientists still believe that this
reality is objective

Anyway, changing the focal point is a very important topic for increasing
the quality of our awareness, so I'm really happy you started this thread.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Just wanted to mention that question #2, is the most important, because we,
as humans, are REALLY untrained is accurately observing current reality. In art
school, art teachers have a very difficult time teaching students to separate
concept from reality.

Oh, GREAT point. I can't draw worth crap when I see "a tree" for example. But when I see lines and colors and shadows, I can do a halfway decent job.

Do you have any tips for observing current reality?

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Do you have any tips for observing current reality?

The first tip is to know what you want to create, EXACTLY. This means
knowing your true desire. For example, mine is to inspire, motivate, and
support people (and other sentient beings). This is what I LOVE to do, and
have always loved it. And I have to admit I don't know why, I can't explain, I
just know it - 4sure.

True desire is what is important and what matters, and what has always been
important and what has always mattered. It is NOT chosen, it is accurately
observed and figured out by looking at what you have always loved, love
now, and most likely will continue to love until your last breath and heart beat.

Once this is fugured out, then you can build goals, targets, objectives around
this true desire. Creating these things becomes a part of what you love,
and bringing them into reality will fill you with non-stop motivation,
because these things are in allignment with what matters to you DEEPLY.

Now, once you have chosen the goals, targets, and objectives, and they are
built around your true desire, you can start to observe current reality
IN RELATION to these goals, targets, and objectives.

Observing current reality without the cloud that concepts/beliefs create
is not that easy, and takes practice. This is why it is important to create a
chart where you have your goals, targets, and objectives written down
and also where you have the current reality in relation to them written down.

Once you have this, then between them you can write down the steps that
you will take to get from where you are now (which is the current reality on
the bottom of the page) to where you want to be when you create what
you want (your goals, targets, objectives written on top).

The best way to describe how to observe current reality is using travelling.

If you are in Los Angeles, and have to travel to Seattle, you know where
you are going (goal) and you know where you are (current reality).

Now as you move toward Seattle you observe where you are at the present
moment, and based on this OBSERVATION, you take the next step.

Does this make sense? Can you see how effective this approach can be
if you want to create something that matters?

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Does this make sense? Can you see how effective this approach can be
if you want to create something that matters?

Yes and no. Do you mean noticing how far away you are from what you want to create?

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

I'm not going to stop analyzing, I'm just going to remind myself not to spend a lot of time "analyzing" (read: obsessing over) things that are not helping me create what I want, or are actually doing the opposite.

And anyone who wants to join me and post in this thread about their focus-changing goals is totally welcome to do that as well.

I'd like to be able to focus more on the moment and on my goals. I can easily get lost in my thoughts. Sometimes it is fun; the analysis can be really delightful. Other times, it just makes me feel anxious and confused. Sometimes I'll be so lost in my thoughts that I'll miss my bus/train stop. Once I got on the bus, closed my eyes to think, and when I opened them again, I didn't recognize the bloody neighbourhood. 'Where am I? '

I'm thinking about trying the method that ssandra called 'anchoring' in the following thread. May be it will help me refocus when I recognize that my thoughts are not aligned with my goals and objectives.

Interview Help!

I am also thinking about meditating again. Though, I have to be honest. In the past, I tried meditation, but I always fell asleep

[Jchappell]

Creation always gets my brain going more than analysis does. Good luck to you

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Yes and no. Do you mean noticing how far away you are from what you want to create?

The Goal: I choose to arrive in Seattle tomorrow morning at 10 AM.

What you wrote above is only a small part of current reality. But it also includes
knowing EXACTLY where you are right now. For example, I am in Los Angeles
on Criseyde Street 125. It is 8AM. I have the ticket for the Greyhound bus.
I bought some food in the store and will eat on the bus.

In other words, your accurate observation of current reality will include
EVERYTHING that relates to your goal of arriving in Seattle tomorrow by 10 AM.

And, from the first step that you take, and until you arrive there safely,
your current reality will continue to change.

This small example shows that our beliefs and conceptions don't really have
any relevance. What kind of person we are, or what we believe does not
really matter that much when we are CREATING.

What does matter is how competent you are in relation to what you are
trying to create, how well you can learn what needs to be learned, your
ability to accurately observe current reality, and your ability to focus.

Of course it all starts with knowing exactly what you want (i.e. what you
truly desire to create and bring into reality).

These are all skills that can be learned while creating. As Steve says, it is
not about being perfect. Perfection isn't the point. The point is for you to
get yourself onto a path of practical, positive growth.

As you develop the skills above during the creation process, the rest will
take care of itself while you are travelling toward your goal.

Hope this explanation made it a little more clear what it means to accurately
observe current reality in relation to your goals, targets, objectives that
truly matter enought to you to bring into reality.

[Criseyde]

Thank you for the explanation, alexplatups.

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

I'd like to be able to focus more on the moment and on my goals. I can easily get lost in my thoughts. Sometimes it is fun; the analysis can be really delightful. Other times, it just makes me feel anxious and confused. Sometimes I'll be so lost in my thoughts that I'll miss my bus/train stop. Once I got on the bus, closed my eyes to think, and when I opened them again, I didn't recognize the bloody neighbourhood. 'Where am I? '

I'm thinking about trying the method that ssandra called 'anchoring' in the following thread. May be it will help me refocus when I recognize that my thoughts are not aligned with my goals and objectives.

Interview Help!

I am also thinking about meditating again. Though, I have to be honest. In the past, I tried meditation, but I always fell asleep

LOL. Have you tried meditating sitting up? Do you still fall asleep?

If I'm lying down, keeping my knees up helps me not fall asleep. How do I explain it... lying on my back with my feet flat on the ground.

And if I do, I always remember that the Dalai Lama said that "sleep is the best meditation."

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Thank you for the explanation, alexplatups.



LOL. Have you tried meditating sitting up? Do you still fall asleep?

If I'm lying down, keeping my knees up helps me not fall asleep. How do I explain it... lying on my back with my feet flat on the ground.

And if I do, I always remember that the Dalai Lama said that "sleep is the best meditation."

I still get sleepy meditating while sitting up. Yah. Meditation is also a good 'cover story'.

'Allison! What were you doing up there!'

'Meditating! '

I could try not meditating for too long. May be only for 5 minutes or so. Its not as if you 'have' to meditate for a set period of time... right?

[Criseyde]

Focus seems to be the topic of the year for me. Steve is even doing a series of posts about it. Thanks, Steve!

I'm reading a book right now called Rapt, by Winifred Gallagher, and it's really showing me how lazy and weak my focus has gotten. It's easy to notice one's AD/HD tendencies when reading a book about focus and not being able to focus on it for more than 5-10 pages at a time.

I used to be able to sit and read for hours, and tune everything else out -- rapt attention. I was also happier. Even though things that I didn't like happened to me, I was able to just go focus on something else, like reading, and feel better. Also, my memory used to be very good and now it is appalling. Winifred Gallagher says that a poor memory is the result of not paying attention in the first place ("what?! I was paying attention!! " But if my focus really has gotten this weak, why would that not be be the case in all areas of life?).

My attention is very diluted now. I let myself get distracted, I don't have good focus on whatever I'm doing, and negative thoughts "creep in" and sometimes I feel like I can't change my focus. I'm getting MUCH better at this though. I still have times when an unpleasant thought comes in and sticks, but I'm able to shift out of it more easily now.

I do amazing things when my focusing mechanism does get triggered. This generally happens shortly before a deadline.

I had a session with Angela earlier this summer. One of the first things she said to me during my consultation was "it seems like you are spending a lot of time focusing on on what you don't want." I think that's what sparked this thread, actually. I don't remember the exact date of the session so I'm not sure.

Obviously I lost focus on my focusing project for a little while but now I am back to it. I've had a new wave of focusing on where my focus is () for the past few weeks and suddenly remembered this thread, so I figured I'd bump it up again.

Anyway -- Rapt seems to be focused on neuroscience rather than metaphysics, at least in the beginning, but since the author makes the point that your life is the sum total of what you focus on, I'll leave this thread in SC&A for now.

[AngelPsychic444]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Focus seems to be the topic of the year for me. Steve is even doing a series of posts about it. Thanks, Steve!

I'm reading a book right now called Rapt, by Winifred Gallagher, and it's really showing me how lazy and weak my focus has gotten. It's easy to notice one's AD/HD tendencies when reading a book about focus and not being able to focus on it for more than 5-10 pages at a time.

I used to be able to sit and read for hours, and tune everything else out -- rapt attention. I was also happier. Even though things that I didn't like happened to me, I was able to just go focus on something else, like reading, and feel better. Also, my memory used to be very good and now it is appalling. Winifred Gallagher says that a poor memory is the result of not paying attention in the first place ("what?! I was paying attention!! " But if my focus really has gotten this weak, why would that not be be the case in all areas of life?).

My attention is very diluted now. I let myself get distracted, I don't have good focus on whatever I'm doing, and negative thoughts "creep in" and sometimes I feel like I can't change my focus. I'm getting MUCH better at this though. I still have times when an unpleasant thought comes in and sticks, but I'm able to shift out of it more easily now.

I do amazing things when my focusing mechanism does get triggered. This generally happens shortly before a deadline.

I had a session with Angela earlier this summer. One of the first things she said to me during my consultation was "it seems like you are spending a lot of time focusing on on what you don't want." I think that's what sparked this thread, actually. I don't remember the exact date of the session so I'm not sure.

Obviously I lost focus on my focusing project for a little while but now I am back to it. I've had a new wave of focusing on where my focus is () for the past few weeks and suddenly remembered this thread, so I figured I'd bump it up again.

Anyway -- Rapt seems to be focused on neuroscience rather than metaphysics, at least in the beginning, but since the author makes the point that your life is the sum total of what you focus on, I'll leave this thread in SC&A for now.

Very interesting post, but I would like to point out a few things, that have been mentioned before on this forum but it's good to repeat them sometimes. Lack of focus, memeory problems, not being able to concentrate are things that many people suffer from, not to mention of course all sorts of AD/HD problems, and so forth, so I understand what you're saying, what you left out might also be pushing you a little to have more than your share of unfocused moments is the current ascension energies we're all going through right now. One of the things that happens while these energies are passing through you is that parts of your body and brain go "off-line", so to speak, and don't work that well, and also cause much confusion in the person this is happening to. Lately, lack of focus, not being able to concentrate and just a total spacing out for no reason seem to be happening to many people as we try to handle these new energies.

I know a writer that is very sensitive to the new energies and one time she said, she could not put two sentences together and and couldn't figure out what was wrong, and started to panic. She checked in with her spirit guides and found out it was just a sort of "upgrade" she was going through with the new energies and they told her to just wait it out, things would return to normal, and eventually they did.

So I think many people are really feeling this now, being to unfocused and out-of-it that it's starting to get to the point where many don't know what to do and in turn attribuye these problems to things that are really not what instigated it in the first place.

I only want to bring this up, since you have to factor this in, it's such an important thing appening now, and might even get worse for some people as this year proceeds and also next year too, it might be more intense. So being aware of this is super important. OK I'm done, I hope what I said was helpful and informative!

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by AngelPsychic444

One of the things that happens while these energies are passing through you is that parts of your body and brain go "off-line", so to speak, and don't work that well, and also cause much confusion in the person this is happening to.

What if your brain going "off-line" is actually the cause and not the effect in terms of the belief in ascension and the confusion is actually the effort needed to maintain a belief despite your current reality telling you the exact opposite?

[AngelPsychic444]

Originally Posted by ChrisGinsburg

What if your brain going "off-line" is actually the cause and not the effect in terms of the belief in ascension and the confusion is actually the effort needed to maintain a belief despite your current reality telling you the exact opposite?

I really doubt that, about thinking it's only a belief.... our going to a higher vibrational plane (ascension) is a very real thing that's taking place. I know you like to bog everything down in terms of just a belief.... but this is the real deal and it should be factored in when wondering why having problems focusing seem's to be very prevelant.

[mallie]

What if your brain going "off-line" is actually the cause and not the effect in terms of the belief in ascension and the confusion is actually the effort needed to maintain a belief despite your current reality telling you the exact opposite?

Hey Chris,

What on earth are you saying? I think my brain has gone "off-line!" lol!
No, I have actually for awhile now I will look at something and have the hardest time understanding what the heck the person is even saying and at other times - I can clearly understand what the person is saying. So Chris I don't understand what you are saying for some reason. Maybe you could reword it because to me it does not make a lot of sense (but I did not get enough sleep last night so my brain is kinda fried)

I do agree with AP that a lot of what is going on with the mind, memory and concentration has a lot to do with ascension energy. Well, if you look at cable - when they recently had to reload new programs and upgrade the service, they shut the cable off for awhile to do this and of course you are without any reception. You can look at the ascension issue and downloading new energy, new programs and upgrading your dna, etc - it is going to cause some shutdown, confusion and interruptions in your energy, sleep, memory, concentration and focus. Not for a long time, but it can cause temporary issues.

I think the biggest problem with all this new energy coming to the planet is that most people are not grounding themselves enough and it is causing a lot of issues for people as well. I just went for a chakra clearing and found out that pretty much all my chakras (except for 3rd and 6th chakra) is blocked so I am working on healing this. Not having good grounding energy can also cause you to feel scattered and not be able to focus and concentrate. That's why after you take a shower you feel so much better because all that water pulls a lot of negativity down the drain and the positive ions also help.

What is going on with me is HUGE sleep issues - which are leading to concentration and focus issues. I now seem to stay awake until 5 am and then get up at 10am or 11am and I am NOT getting enough sleep. I don't really know what is causing the sleep issues and they started around Jan and just seem to keep getting worse. God, at the rate I am going I will be down to 2hrs of sleep before too long! lol!

[Criseyde]

Thank you all for your perspectives.

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Focus seems to be the topic of the year for me. Steve is even doing a series of posts about it. Thanks, Steve!

I'm reading a book right now called Rapt, by Winifred Gallagher, and it's really showing me how lazy and weak my focus has gotten. It's easy to notice one's AD/HD tendencies when reading a book about focus and not being able to focus on it for more than 5-10 pages at a time.

I used to be able to sit and read for hours, and tune everything else out -- rapt attention. I was also happier. Even though things that I didn't like happened to me, I was able to just go focus on something else, like reading, and feel better. Also, my memory used to be very good and now it is appalling. Winifred Gallagher says that a poor memory is the result of not paying attention in the first place ("what?! I was paying attention!! " But if my focus really has gotten this weak, why would that not be be the case in all areas of life?).

My attention is very diluted now. I let myself get distracted, I don't have good focus on whatever I'm doing, and negative thoughts "creep in" and sometimes I feel like I can't change my focus. I'm getting MUCH better at this though. I still have times when an unpleasant thought comes in and sticks, but I'm able to shift out of it more easily now.

I do amazing things when my focusing mechanism does get triggered. This generally happens shortly before a deadline.

I had a session with Angela earlier this summer. One of the first things she said to me during my consultation was "it seems like you are spending a lot of time focusing on on what you don't want." I think that's what sparked this thread, actually. I don't remember the exact date of the session so I'm not sure.

Obviously I lost focus on my focusing project for a little while but now I am back to it. I've had a new wave of focusing on where my focus is () for the past few weeks and suddenly remembered this thread, so I figured I'd bump it up again.

Anyway -- Rapt seems to be focused on neuroscience rather than metaphysics, at least in the beginning, but since the author makes the point that your life is the sum total of what you focus on, I'll leave this thread in SC&A for now.

mmm... this is kind of becoming the theme of my life, too, but not exactly. My attention is diluted, but it's based not in an inability to focus so much as a fear of focusing. That is what I've realized.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I used to analyze everything I did as a child. I had such a bad case of social anxiety it wasn't even funny. The whole problem was that I had no idea how to relate to people, especially those my own age and who I didn't know already. I was always the quiet kid in class and would agonize over anything I did that was awkward or embarrassing. I used to remember things I said and did and yell out curse words while remembering these embarrassing moments.

Then I totally realized that most people weren't spending all this time thinking about what I did that I didn't like, so why was I giving all my power to it? I definitely know what it is like to analyze and reflect on everything I've ever done, and it can drive you mad. So, if you really want to create the life of your dreams, you have to stop obsessing over everything, and clear your mind. Focus on one thing at a time and one thing only. Focus on what you are creating, and you'll see that a focused mind and a creative spirit can lead to great things.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Cochonette

mmm... this is kind of becoming the theme of my life, too, but not exactly. My attention is diluted, but it's based not in an inability to focus so much as a fear of focusing. That is what I've realized.

Why are you afraid of focusing?

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

I used to analyze everything I did as a child. I had such a bad case of social anxiety it wasn't even funny. The whole problem was that I had no idea how to relate to people, especially those my own age and who I didn't know already. I was always the quiet kid in class and would agonize over anything I did that was awkward or embarrassing. I used to remember things I said and did and yell out curse words while remembering these embarrassing moments.

Then I totally realized that most people weren't spending all this time thinking about what I did that I didn't like, so why was I giving all my power to it? I definitely know what it is like to analyze and reflect on everything I've ever done, and it can drive you mad. So, if you really want to create the life of your dreams, you have to stop obsessing over everything, and clear your mind. Focus on one thing at a time and one thing only. Focus on what you are creating, and you'll see that a focused mind and a creative spirit can lead to great things.

Thank you! This is totally what I needed to hear right now. I can do that too -- fixate on things in conversations that probably nobody else even remembers, that I wish I had said differently or...

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Why are you afraid of focusing?

Uh... well, I make up lots of reasons to maintain the fear of focusing, which is ever-present. I guess the point is to stop focusing on the why, the what I'm afraid of, and start focusing on letting go of that fear. When it boils down to it, it seems that I am just afraid of something unpleasant happening, which could be anything. And the fear just builds up, so that something very simple and straightforward seems perpetually too unpleasant to even think about.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Cochonette

Uh... well, I make up lots of reasons to maintain the fear of focusing, which is ever-present. I guess the point is to stop focusing on the why, the what I'm afraid of, and start focusing on letting go of that fear. When it boils down to it, it seems that I am just afraid of something unpleasant happening, which could be anything. And the fear just builds up, so that something very simple and straightforward seems perpetually too unpleasant to even think about.

Oh, okay. That's interesting. I always thought procrastination was linked to fear, but I thought it was fear of success. I guess if focus leads to success, that makes sense.

--

Okay -- back to changing focus. Focusing on the ways that my focus is not where I want it to be is not going to help me change it. I'm glad that I sat down and took stock, though, because now I feel much clearer about what I need to do. I don't want to just "change" my focus, I also want to improve it. To this end, I have decided that I'm going to start a meditation practice.

The book I'm reading talks about mindfulness meditation as a way to train focus, so I have decided to start doing that every day. I just did 15 minutes. Honestly, it was so boring and I thought about ten gazillion different things. But the fact that I thought about ten gazillion rather than obsessing over one is probably a good thing, means I was successful in letting go of trains of thought and refocusing on my breath, for however little time that focus lasted.

[AngelPsychic444]

The book I'm reading talks about mindfulness meditation as a way to train focus, so I have decided to start doing that every day. I just did 15 minutes. Honestly, it was so boring and I thought about ten gazillion different things. But the fact that I thought about ten gazillion rather than obsessing over one is probably a good thing, means I was successful in letting go of trains of thought and refocusing on my breath, for however little time that focus lasted.

As a way to increase your meditation periods and to make yourself more in-tune with everything (and also not spend too much money...lol), you could hold a piece of amethyst crystal in each hand. A simple thing like this can have wonderful effects on any meditation practice, and may also give you a more calm and quiet state of mind.

[Criseyde]

I just had a great realization. I started a thread in S&R a couple days ago about how I made drama in relationships in order to convince myself that I care about people. awdye made a great point about how sometimes people just don't know how to deal with peace. That's exactly what I've been experiencing, not just in a relationship sense but in my entire life. I genuinely do not know how to handle a peaceful environment. It feels alien to me, so I have to create drama myself to make up for the lack of drama around me. "What? Someone else isn't making me feel bad? Balderdash, I shall take matters into my own hands!"

Okay -- so I've been thinking about what, exactly, I need to focus on. "Creation" from my first post is too vague and easy to get distracted from, as is obvious to me from the 2.5 month hiatus I took from this thread. Not that I haven't created excitement and adventure and really wild things... it's just not exactly what I had in mind!

I'm looking to make some serious top down improvements, anyway, starting at the level of awareness, which is why I put this thread in SC&A to begin with, even though it looks a lot like a Personal Effectiveness thread.

Since I've been reading some Abraham-Hicks material and contemplating the way to create the biggest results, I think my focus is going to be on alignment. I created some purpose-level possibilities (Love and Connection) with Angela, but so far I suck at aligning with them. I'm like, "oh yeah... that sounds great... now let's go back to feeling bad about x, y, and z!"

What does alignment with Love and Connection feel like? That is where I'm going to direct my focus. I expect to see some changes and new ideas along the way.

For now, I leave myself (and all of you) with a quote from Marcel Proust: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by AngelPsychic444

As a way to increase your meditation periods and to make yourself more in-tune with everything (and also not spend too much money...lol), you could hold a piece of amethyst crystal in each hand. A simple thing like this can have wonderful effects on any meditation practice, and may also give you a more calm and quiet state of mind.

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll look into it! I love crystals.

[Criseyde]

Okay, I've moderated myself by moving this thread to I-M. Since I'm reading Abraham material and talking about aligning with this and that, I figured that I-M is the best place.

Last night and today, I did a great job of putting my focus exactly where I don't want it. And somehow it has miraculous staying power whilst there. I think the general term for this is "anxiety." It might be time to cut back on the caffeine again, my sister just got me a stovetop espresso maker and I have been indulging perhaps overly. But anyway, I AM capable of sustained focus.

I do have one interesting note to make. I was also doing that focus where I don't want it thing last night, and focusing-on-breath meditation for 15 minutes cured it. In order to actually get there, I had to tell myself during the meditation, "once this is done, I am allowed to worry again." (Of course, I didn't want to.) The takeaway here is that I was actively resisting focusing on something else. Somehow, some part of me was worried that something bad would happen if I STOPPED worrying. I thought that was interesting because I never would have noticed that was happening before.