The Power of Attention

There is a battle being waged for your attention.

Our attention is powerful because it shapes the reality of our moment-to-moment experience of life. As a consequence, our attention shapes our way of being and our behavior. It’s no surprise that companies want to find a way to attract and keep your attention so you will buy their product or service or join their cause. For this reason, it has become a commodity in high demand.

How can we bring more awareness to the choices we are making with our attention? We can start by asking ourselves questions that help reveal our intentions and form useful guidelines. On a yet deeper level, it’s also useful to direct our attention inward, consciously engaging our mind-body conversation which directs much of our attention unconsciously.

Focus practices develop our inner ability to choose how we respond to situations rather than being unconsciously manipulated by emotional triggers, such as threat or disgust. Taking responsibility for our attention is a powerful step towards the life we want to live. This doesn’t imply that we can control everything that happens, of course that isn’t possible or even desirable. It is this very unpredictability of life that invites us to be more vigilant about our attention, which influences our ability to make good choices.

Mindfulness practices bring awareness to what is arising unconsciously in our minds and enable us to decide whether we want to ‘pay attention’ or ‘give value to’ whatever is arising. We are each unique, with our own experience and gifts of expression. By understanding how to consciously ‘pay attention’ we can powerfully interact with people in our lives, at home, work and online in ways that empower ourselves and others.