As you might have noticed, I’ve been posting a lot less on this blog in the last month or so. This is partially due to reasons I mentioned last week, and also partially due to my own efforts to slow down a little bit. I’ve said in the past that the main reason I tend to blog as much as I do is that I often have a great many things bouncing around in my head and writing has been therapeutic for me, blogging in turn has allowed me to get feedback on those thoughts as well. This is all still quite true, but I’ve also started questioning the value of letting my mind wander down so many rabbit trails at once. In some ways, I think it’s just part of who I am, and at other times I think I’d be much more productive or just ‘present’ if I could focus my thoughts and energy on one thing or project at a time, rather then several.
I’m not sure what that will mean for the dynamics of this blog, nor even myself really, but I’d like to make an effort at it. I think I hit information overload at some point and just felt the need to start ignoring or taking a break from things. And much of this is internet driven, it’s a thousand times easier to jump from thing to thing online then while reading a book on the couch or sitting with your kids on the playground. I’m just figuring these things out myself.
How about you?
Whoa. You took the words right out of my mouth. I feel this very exact same thing. I have been trying to figure out what to do with it for about a year now. What do I lay aside? What do I let go of and move on with and focus on. Disciple making is my command so what does that look like in a focused manner? Ahhh!!!
I've been trying to limit distractions, slowly moving certain things (websites, emails, etc) to once a day or once a week time blocks. Those tend to be the launching point for a lot of distractions for me. That's where I'm starting for now.
I have found that this mind / thoughts flowing in many directions is a part of who you are. Just look at your parents. On the other hand the ability to focus – especially to be here now and enjoy the moment is an important part of the ability to appreciate, be grateful and truly experience joy. Look to the east for guidance. The Japanese tea ceremony, growing Banzai trees, those long bows and arrows and Zazen meditation are all means to develop focus and concentration and lead to coordination and perfection in a disciplined art form – it obviously then transfers to all other areas of life. In summary – get a hobby that totally absorbs your interests and offers a mini-vacation each time to set aside time and space to do it – then do it! with focus and concentration. If that doesn't work – find another hobby. In Karate and Judo I think it is called a Kata. Even putting away the dishes or cleaning your home can be a Kata if performed with focus and concentration to be efficient and perfect with each movement. I thank my time with UPS loading trucks for teaching me to make every movement count and to think efficient movements. Taking care of kids is not an opportunity for a smooth flowing kata – unless you flow with their rhythm – which is constantly changing – so let go and dance with them, letting them lead.