Treat #98
: Nourishing Continual Complete Attention
I know the value of attention. For me life is a continuous practice of being with my attention. Years ago I began meditating and the thought of learning how to stay focused with my attention for five minutes seemed an impossible goal. Gradually, with practice, I was able sit and simply focus on my inner attention for more than an hour at a time.
Now I teach about attention as the way through to completion. I start my clients’ sessions asking them to close their eyes and follow their attention for 2-3 minutes. I get many puzzled looks and, for some, 20 seconds is long enough. The reason I do this exercise is to have people experience first-hand how to follow and be with their attention. For many the inner experience of watching their attention is a challenge as the mind is often holding multiple incompletes all clamoring to be at the top of their completion list. And underneath all the mental chatter is the attention awaiting our focus.
Without the connection to my attention I am not available to right now and I often make mistakes, say things that are unclear, and get ahead of myself. To return to my attention I simply stop, breathe, maybe even close my eyes and then just listen until I can make that connection. Then I have the clarity to do what is next.
A recent client enthusiastically shared with me about his observation of his teenage children and how much their lack of attention is impacting his family’s life. He coined this phrase continuous partial attention to describe his kids’ behavior.
He watches his kids continually checking their phones, texting back friends, etc, etc, while pretending to have a conversation with him. He finally made a rule of no cell phones in the car driving to their weekend home. It was the only way for him to get to “be” with his kids and have a real connection. I am sure we all recognize this same level of distraction. How many times have we been in a conversation with a colleague or a friend and we know we do not have their attention.
During my Yoga class I notice I can stand on one foot with my other foot against my leg and have complete balance only if I let go and let my attention focus straight ahead on one fixed spot. If I am still “holding” on to any tension in my body “trying” to balance, I start to teeter. And if I let go, relax and soften my body I come right into balance and I am 100% available to this moment.
A friend sent me a quote from Lynne Twist, the author of The Soul of Money:
“In the nourishment of our attention, our assets expand and grow.”
When I read it, someplace deep inside me said a resounding yes to the nourishing of our attention. And if in addition my assets will grow as a result even better. For me the nourishing of my attention is a willingness to sacrifice the attention distracters and switch into continual complete attention.
Our attention is our most precious commodity deserving of our presence.
Martha Invitations
1.Observe more.
2.Take time to rest your attention. Close your eyes for a few minutes and watch your attention until it quiets.
3.Luxuriate in no distractions for a day (okay, maybe just an hour to start). Turn off everything and go outside.
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