Blending the imaginative with the analytical to create experiences that communicate.
Focus
What has become most enchanting during my stretches of silence: focus.
The moonrise last week caught me by surprise. A pinpoint of light on the horizon, surrounded by a sunset sky changing from blue to pink. It was so full and round, so luminous, amidst a darkening landscape.
“It’s a focus point,” I thought. It’s far away but distinct from the surroundings. I had been honing my attention for the previous five days, an uncommon exercise in my multi-tasking, multi-colored daily life.
My son had been staying with his Dad up in Tahoe for the week and I was exploring the deep silence of being alone, out in the woods for days on end. I purposefully made no plans with friends, didn’t drive to town and only went to the local natural foods store every other day. I sank into the stillness, focused on work, meditation and journaling. I got into a rhythm with the heavenly bodies, waking at sunrise, winding down at sunset, focusing on client work and creation during the day.
I watch a few movies at night, cooked simple meals, and spoke very little, mainly checking in with my son once or twice a day. Instead of music during the day, I experimented with silence.
I was surprised at how focused I became. I allowed very few distractions, very few advertisements, very few trains of thought that were not my own.
I know most of life isn’t this focused, with children and careers and friends and family. But it was so enlightening to choose a deep level of focus for multiple days in a row. Each burst of wind, birdsong and leaf crunch were noted. The ratio of wood to warmth was closely monitored in my woodstove. My car sat idle.
We never do this. We never allow ourselves to focus. I realized I do have a place in my consciousness that is wildly expansive and deeply at peace. Reaching that place, and simmering in it, basically let me know that it does exist and I have the option to cultivate conditions that make it easier to access – things like a de-cluttered space, low-prep meals, and a window of time that is void of distraction.
I kept thinking, I had accidentally wandered into my own personal silent retreat. It wasn’t really intentional. I just wasn’t required to communicate much. And I chose not to distract myself with podcasts or music. I just let my mind work or think or rest, in silence.
What came about was a clearer path to my creative stream. I think honing the ability to tap in, at will, to our “inner sight” is an advantage in any creative pursuit. Being able to drop in to that place, where creative ideas and inspiration flows is an asset in all the work I do. Plus it’s entertaining.
I think we get kind of obsessed with other people’s creations – through shows, movies, music, podcasts, even books. It’s great to explore, educate ourselves and collaborate, but how much of our own creative stream do we ignore by using so much of our time to take in the creations of others?
While we’re at it, our attention is capitalized on by advertisements. Sometimes they’re useful. But sometimes they are just 100% distraction. I wonder what the opportunity cost is. I wonder how good I can get at filtering out distraction and getting real darn interested in my own point of focus.