Whether it is ancient wisdom and or modern neuroscience, one thing that is clear is the importance of being intentional. Our 'survival' brain gets distracted by our worries and troubles, and it over-processes the past, or over-imagines the future. When our brain is running on Autopilot, lost in the past or the future, we completely forget the power of clear intention in the present.
Think of intention like a magnifying glass in the sunlight. Intention clarifies, focuses and concentrates the mind. On a deeper level, it synchronizes the various networks within our mind, unifying them around a clear goal. This is why any time that you have been very clear in your life you likely experienced a sense of seeing through or cutting through the noise and obstructions (both in your own mind and the world around you).
Being Intentional is Being Present
If Autopilot is how to not be present, being intentional is one way that we can become present again. As you are about to focus on a work task, or have a conversation, or make a presentation - pause and clarify your intention. How do you want to show up? What is most important in this task? What is the outcome you are desiring?
Similarly, as you are about to make dinner, enjoy some exercise or enjoy some downtime at the end of the day - pause and clarify your intention. Let your brain know that your are off duty now from work and that you are giving your full attention to the people or experience you are now engaging with.
Can you see how pausing to be intentional brings you more fully back into the present moment and clarifies your goal in the activity? Can you see how this might affect your performance in the moment and your enjoyment of the activity? The focusing power is clear - yet without practice, most of us forget this and default back to reacting. I know this and I routinely forget to be intentional. It is surprisingly easy to default to Autopilot. But all is not lost.
Meditation is Training
Meditation is a tool we use to practice training our attention and intention. In fact, intention is instrumental to training our brain to focus on the meditation object and stay aware of the mind's tendency to drift somewhere else. When you have clear intent in your practice, you will notice that you are able to stay on the breath longer and that there seems to be less thoughts bubbling up. This is your mind synching up around your intention to focus on the breath.
What this feels like is clarity and calm, yet focused too. Most of the time our mind is so busy that we have become accustomed to this as if it is normal. It is a far more effective way to accomplish what we need to and also brings and sense of ease and joy with it.
How About You?
What would life be like for you if you brought more intention to your work and life outside of work? How would this focus your energy toward your desired outcomes? How would this help you see the distractions that fragment, sap or deplete your energy? The same goes for your team - what would be possible for them with greater focus and energy?
Let's find time to connect as I'd love to hear how you are doing, what you want more of in life and help you that what you want is entirely possible.