Read All of This Article, I Dare You...
What was it Mr Miyagi, the sage martial arts instructor, said to his student in The Karate Kid? 'Focus Daniel-San, focus.' Focus. Remember that? Apparently it's the ability to concentrate on something for more than... erm, for more than... I forget.
And did I get the definition wrong? Perhaps. Wait a second, I'll just Google it. Here we go: 'Focus - the act of concentrating interest or activity on something.' Not too far out then.
There you are, wonderful, wonderful knowledge at my fingertips. Just like that. Perhaps that's why it's so difficult to get these words down. I could be doing this, or I could be finding myself an escape to the country, or an X-Factor contestant, or a lingerie model, or a watertight (as far as the Internet goes) argument for why America shouldn't be using drone warplanes in Afghanistan.
Focus... used to be a friend of mine.
If humanity's appetite for distraction is endless, then the Internet is an eternal candy store for the fractured mind. Concentration is a thing of the past.
I'll only use two facts to prove my point. Cross verify them if you will, and however you want. At work, at home and at play, we get distracted on average every three minutes. Every three minutes something beeps, bings, whistles, flashes, or plays the Imperial March from Star Wars. If we're distracted, we're not concentrating, and if we're not concentrating, we're not learning at a deep level. No deep thinking, no real progress. That means our drive to create more 'beeping, flashing and whistling things' - and, let's face it, our world now revolves around this drive - is stunting growth. Our progress is halting our progress.
Yes, there's an entirely different spin on this, so go find it. But for now here's your other 'starter for ten'. Scientists say that the constant distraction we experience has the same effect on the brain as smoking Marijuana. Well, if you can't beat 'em...
I wonder if this means that in the valley of those hardwired for distraction, the person with focus is King/Queen/Jedi Master?
I write this and I think of Mary, sat at the feet of the Jesus, while her sister is... you know, distracted. And I think of one focus to rule them all, one focus to find them, one focus to bring them all and in the darkness bind them:
'"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed..."' (Luke 10:41,42).
Focus, Daniel-San. Focus.
Jason Gardner
Comments
very good comment; reminds me of the difficulty we now encounter in many committees and working groups as well ... which have been described as 'CPA ...'continual partial attention' ... How often do you see someone shut their computer down or ignore the ringing phone whilst in important meetings ... to which they have devoted time merely by the fact of turning up? The new communication world need a new set of disciplines, and definitions of acceptable and otherwise behaviour in civilised groupings. Much work needs to be done and new patterns defined.
Thank you for this. It's given me the incentive to try and cut out some of the distractions in my life.
thanks for the comments, well I did say there's an entirely different spin on this didn't I? those studies second hand from Richard Watson: http://tiny.cc/gg3xn
Perspective and focus may not be compatible.
Focus is important, but let's not be too quick to blame the internet and gadgets, as these can be tools to enhance learning, as much as to distract from it. If, once you've read this article, and my comment, you still have enough concentration to read another perspective (and I believe in you enough to think you are capable of this), take a look at http://bit.ly/fpmtRC
While I agree with this, and would love to see more deep learning and focus amont the students I teach, I think there must be a happy medium somewhere in there. All focus and no distraction will make you go pretty crazy too. Just a little bugbear of mine, but can you put some sort of reference when you say "scientists say that.....". It both gives confidence that you are not making it up and also seeks to give some credit to the scientists who, through dedicated "focus", work very hard to find these things out. Thanks, Alan
The power to concentrate, "This one thing that I do..." is a clear expression of internalised love-in-action. Getting rid of distractions is useful if it is accompanied with devotion, and concentration with [active] contemplation e.g. Mother Theresa was a contemplative nun before she was the tireless carer of Calcutta. Purity of heart and simplicity of life are forged in the crucible of affliction as we share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings and the power of His resurrection life. Modern ICT as a "tool or toy" is not the root of the matter of the Hardrive of modern life - the Shepherd's-leading love responded to in simple pure devotion to God is, Praise Him
Date:
2011-03-27 20:13:59
Author:
Bill Saunders