What Deserves Your Attention?
Our world is full of continual notifications (Ahem, distractions) and constant “connectivity”, making it feel like we always need to be “on”.
Naturally, this makes it extremely difficult to be intentional about where we expend our focus + attention.
Attention, focus, and intention? Aren’t those all the same thing?
Actually, no. So let’s start with a quick breakdown of each.
Attention
This directly translates to what is currently taking up space in your mind, what you are thinking about. In your daily life, this could look like quickly diverting your attention from your email to your partner who is asking you a question and then shifting back to your email. Attention is dynamic in that it can quickly adapt to meet the needs of the task at hand.
Focus
Focus is more sustained than attention, making it more of a static activity. It also tends to be sharper than attention, as we as humans are unable to spend a great deal of attention on a large number of things (even though we try). Rather, focus uses concentration to zone in on a particular person, place, or thing.
Intention
This is your purpose. Best case scenario, your intention underlays your attention + focus, making your activity meaningful. If we set an intention but fail to include attention and focus, our intention is not met or tended to, leaving our goals unmet.
Now that you are familiar with each of these terms, what are you noticing? Here are some questions for you as you reflect:
Which area (attention, focus, intention) do you tend to act out of most frequently?
Why do you think this is the case?
Which area do you wish you spent more time in?
How can you make this happen?
What place do your intentions stem from?