Attention is about how we do what we do; it is about the energy that flows between me and whatever I am engaging in. Paying attention to what we give our attention to is crucial to the transformation of our consciousness. Attention energizes our efforts and increases our productivity. We know that children, houseplants and our beloved all thrive with attention. In addition, our own inner work begins with attention. For example, meditation teaches us to pay attention to one point. In counseling and spiritual direction, I assist clients with the practice of meditation and breath work to deepen their sense of present moment attention.
On a daily basis, our attention is so often grabbed from without and within. We need to be careful about to what we focus our attention on. Too much exposure to violence, superficiality or negativity, causes our energy to drop. Subtly, our culture condones and encourages the fragmentation of our attention. Our attention spans have been diminished by the pace of our society. For example, notice how quickly the frames flip through present day TV shows versus TV shows from 20 years ago. Children have come to think that if something is not interesting that they don’t need to pay attention to it. Encourage yourself and your family members to not be on electronics in the car and at the dinner table or in the bedroom. Create space in your home and life that are electronic free so you can just be present.
We want to cultivate a steady state of consciousness by placing our attention intentionally on what we desire. Don’t allow yourself to become passive about your attention. Boredom is a low energy state. The cure to boredom is to reengage the power of attention. Bring your attention back to active engagement. Where in our body do we engage our attention from? Try honing in on your solar plexus, the area in your torso below the ribs and above the belly button. Breathe into this space and make attention a decision and an act of will.
Counseling and Spiritual Direction in Boca Raton, Fl.
In counseling, I help clients reengage the power of attention to energetically lift themselves into a higher state of being. I’m Elizabeth Pankey-Warren, LSCW, M. Div., in private practice in Boca Raton. I provide individual counseling, couples therapy and spiritual direction.
Ideas taken from Cynthia Bourgeault, lecture, Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA. April 2019.