The Power of Attention

One of the greatest generators of success that we all possess is our attention. That’s because what we put our attention on grows stronger. Attention is like the sun; it illuminates and stimulates. Also like the sun, attention is not selective. We are the ones who need to choose where to direct it. We can grow weeds or we can grow flowers. The choice is ours. If we put our attention of a problem, the problem will grow stronger. If we put our attention on some possible negative outcome that has yet to occur, we increase the likelihood of that result coming to fruition. It is vastly more intelligent to put our attention on finding a solution.

Using our attention wisely is the essence of self-empowerment. We should only focus our attention on those core values and processes that nourish our lives.

As a leader, paying attention to people influences them positively. If we catch someone doing something right, we create a positive feedback loop and generate more of the same favorable activity. If we catch ourselves doing something right, those progressive qualities become stronger as well.

Putting attention on weaknesses weakens both us and an organization. If, however, we recognize strengths, we make weakness irrelevant.

Fear is one of the greatest enemies to progress. It puts attention on what you do not want. It takes the focus away from the desired goal.

If we think of defeat, that’s what we get. We must just pick something great to do and do it and never think of failure at all, for as we think now, that is what we will get.

    “Our doubts are traitors,
    And make us lose the good we oft might win
    By fearing to attempt.”

                 William Shakespeare
                “Measure for Measure” Act 1 scene 4

The solution – doubt the doubts.

www.lazyway.net

Comments

[factoring]

Sure, the brain will amplify whatever it pays attention to - whether good or bad. I recently did an experiment and spent a whole day just trying to focus on the good paying little attention to the bad (not in a Pollyanna way, of course). By that way - it was a tough experiment. I have a whole new level of respect for people that try and stay focused on the good.

Results: I had a great day. Mysteriously, a number of external things lined up nicely that day.

[Alexander Kjerulf]

The power of attention is vastly underrated in business (and in life) today. Often you don't have to DO anything to solve a problem all you need to do is focus your attention wisely. This is of course the basis of Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most powerful tools for positive change (http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/).

Timothy Gallweys excellent book The Inner Game of Work is also all about learning by focusing your attention.

In one story, Gallwey coaches a tuba player in a symphony orchestra. Now, Gallwey has never played the tuba, but simply by asking 4 or 5 well-placed questions, he directs the tuba players attention in a way that gives the man such a breakthrough in his playing, that the entire orchestra gives him a standing ovation.

[Larry Megugorac]

Freddy Boy,

I heard fear explaned this way. God never intended Fear to even exist. We mere mortals invented it. Fear is just an acronym for False Expectations About Risk!!

When ever doubt creeps in to your thoughts feel the higher frequency of Gratitude and it will melt away!!

Magoo

[Connie]

Well, Fred, you do certainly present some compelling reasons to self publish... Sometimes I wish I'd gone that route myself... Too late now, though. It has definitely been a very, very long haul, with some heart aches along the way, challenges galore, a few obstacles, etc., etc. -- but finally, my book is being published by a mainstream publisher -- but not til January. Would I do that again? Still thinking!!! Put it this way, my book would have been published quite a while ago if I'd taken matters into my own hand. On the other hand, I'm hopeful that taking this arduous path of traditional publishers will allow my book to have more visibility. But, darn, if I know what I know now, I might have done things differently.

Clearly, I need to buy your book and learn how to work differently and less and achieve more! Love your concept!

All the best. (Heard about you from someone in my Blog to Bestseller course.)

Connie