The Definition of Focus

by Devan Tindall

     In my continual search for growth and evolution in my personal life and in my work to assist others with their own growth, I have come to value and appreciate teaching people the ability to FOCUS. It is a beautiful, subtle and empowering process, the gift of which has brought me unexpected spiritual openings.

     The dictionary defines Focus as, “The ability to adjust one's vision so as to render a clear, distinct image.”

     We use this word all the time and in many applications. We can Focus a lens, find the Focus in a geometry problem, see the Focus of an earthquake, or Focus our attention, but do we ever really think about what Focus can do for us?

     In my work, Focus is a body-oriented process of self-awareness and emotional healing. It is as simple as noticing how you feel and allowing the feelings to have a voice, to be heard and felt. If you allow it, Focus can be a process for your growth.

     Every person on this planet was born with this gift of Focus, this ability to know how they feel from moment to moment. For many of us, childhood experiences of hurt and alienation as well as social programming have created a lack of trust in the wisdom and intelligence that exist inherently in our bodies. Our feelings are an indicator and we, who have forgotten to pay attention to these feelings in our bodies, must re-learn Focus.
 
     Like anything we learn, this will take time and patience. If we go to the gym, do we expect bulging muscles and a defined waistline after a few workouts? Certainly not! But, like building muscle at the gym, if we stay with the process, we will develop the skills to listen to ourselves, understand what our feelings are telling us and honor our own needs.

     Focus doesn’t cover just one purpose, but a broad range of purposes. When you learn the skill of Focus, you will benefit from it for the rest of your life. Focus can help you address many issues you might struggle with.

I feel STUCK in some area of my life.

I want to discover what I FEEL and what I WANT.

     Many people are not in touch with their feelings and what it is they really want. Some of us are so busy trying to please others, we lose touch with the things that would bring us joy. Additionally, in our society men are often trained to treat tender feelings as weakness, and therefore ignore them, and women are often trained to live in deference to others. As a result, we don’t even know what we feel and want! We cut ourselves off from the messages our bodies are sending us through feelings.

     When we learn to Focus, we re-center ourselves in our own bodies which allows us to come back in contact with what is real for us, our feelings and our needs.

I need to find a better way to handle overwhelming emotions.

     Strong feelings of sadness, fear or anger can overwhelm you and leave you feeling helpless. These emotions are strong for a reason. They have important things to tell us. Focusing allows you to learn this important piece and receive the gift of wisdom the emotions are offering without being overwhelmed by them. When you learn Focus, you’ll learn to have a comfortable relationship with these feelings and discover how to honor them instead of being powerless against them.

I want to take action, but I can’t seem to get around this BLOCK.

     Procrastination is the all-purpose block. If you find yourself saying, “I want to ___________, but I don’t,” then you have an action block. Addictions work in reverse. If you have an addiction, you might find yourself saying, “I want to stop ___________, but I don’t.”

     Focusing helps you release action blocks and addictions by listening compassionately to the part of you that is responsible for the block. Rather than always fighting against it, you’ll learn to gain the cooperation of that part of yourself and move on.

I want to release all this self-criticism and increase my self-love and acceptance.

     Our inner critic will say things like, “What’s wrong with you? You could/should have done that better! Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy of ____________! You’re such an idiot.”

     “Who” is saying these mean things to you? Almost without exception, we are crueler to ourselves than we are to anybody else. Focusing is a powerful tool for letting go of the inner critic and other forms of self-sabotage. It is possible to turn the inner critic into an ally and grow from it, developing love and acceptance for ALL parts of yourself.

I want to learn to make CLEAR, CENTERED decisions.

     If decision making is a challenge for you, it can create chaos, confusion, self-doubt and anxiety. With decisions to make every day, this can be a difficult way to live. When you learn Focus, you can learn to make a choice holistically.

     Our bodies hold the wisdom of the present moment, and the present moment is the change epicenter. When you learn to Focus, you re-form a trust-relationship with your body. Focusing is the key to changing your life in ways you didn’t know were possible.

     In the coming months, I will be offering information and tips about Focus that include the Three Centers of Intelligence—Body, Heart and Mind. Please contact me for your personal, private session for coaching or hypnosis where I will teach you to Focus and work through any of the issues you might be facing in your life.

     This is your call to action. Take heart.

Much love, Devan

                                                                                        —30—

Devan writes a column for The New Era Times called FOCUS. Be sure to check her column regularly for more uplifting ways to master your life skills. You can reach Devan by email for questions or comments.