Sustain Your Focus with this Meditation Practice | WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST

Episode 314: Sustain Your Focus with this Meditation Practice

Episode Notes

Are you able to focus on the right things at the right time, most of the time? If so, you are practicing four aspects connected with one skill: focus. You can direct your attention to what you want to think about and can sustain your attention as long as you would like to. You notice when your focus has been diverted to something else and can return to your focal point when you desire. You can also relax your attention and let your mind rest.

The purpose of meditation over time is to keep the mind stable and attentive. Last week we did a Directing Focus meditation. Today is the compliment meditation to directing focus, and that is a Sustaining Attention meditation.

The Healthy Minds Innovation APP has four areas that support the development of a calm, clear, and stable mind over time. I briefly describe them right before your 6-minute Sustaining Attention meditation. You will notice below that focus is a skill connected to awareness, the first area in a healthy mind.

Awareness: means practicing presence, focus, and self-awareness.

Connection: means practicing appreciation, kindness, compassion, and widening the circle of influence to see how we are all connected.

Insight: the key to having a healthy sense of self is what scientists call “self-inquiry.” The ability to step back and examine our expectations and beliefs. Self-knowledge and transcendence. Transcendence is part of being whole or in a state of grace and developing a higher level of consciousness. Practicing insight means examining how our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs shape the way we see the world.

Purpose: finding meaning in the mundane details of everyday life. “Deep purpose,” says Cortland Dahl (the speaker in the Healthy Minds APP), “gives us the ability to keep our most deeply held values front and center in our life, relationships, and at work. It helps us to see the bigger picture and focus on the most important things in our lives.” I call this our lifework. The reason we are here.

Directing attention is focusing on the right things at the right time. Sustaining attention is an ability to keep your focus, control impulses, and keep your mind from wandering.

It is time now to tap into the reservoir within and stay present to what is in your heart. This inner peaceful and sacred space is where no one but you has access. DOWNLOAD

NEXT STEP after listening: Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities are below.

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Episode Resources

Direct Your Focus Meditation

Catch Yourself Before Distracting Yourself: Direct Your Focus

Healthy Minds Innovations

Healthy Minds Innovations APP

Understand Ukraine's History with this Resource

Read The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy

Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring

After listening, do these three C.A.L.M. Activities:

Take this risk or do this adventurous task: DOWNLOAD this sustaining attention meditation. Experience the six-minute meditation. Experiment with directing and then sustaining your attention to each task throughout the day.

Apply Self-Compassion: At the end of today, highlight what you learned about directing and sustaining your attention. Were you able to direct and sustain your focus when you needed to? Allow your mind to relax into open awareness of what is around you and release the exercise. Acknowledge what you learned. Set an intention to practice focusing tomorrow. Close your eyes and peacefully fall asleep.

Welcome Appreciation: “I appreciate sharing what I am learning to increase my ability to focus and yours. I appreciate experiencing a calm, clear, and stable mind and putting together exercises that promote a healthy mind.

I am grateful to my meditation mentors. Meditation has improved my ability to do my lifework and has helped me relate to everyone in healthier ways. I appreciate progress.”

Your Turn. Start with, “I appreciate what I learned from Nancy’s sustaining attention meditation. I appreciate this week’s adventurous task because….”

“Most of the problems in our lives and world are caused by relational dysfunction, a dysfunction in how we relate: as social groups, as individuals, to animals and the environment, and even to ourselves. Therefore, developing relational literacy—the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating—is essential for personal, social, and ecological transformation.” —Melanie Joy, psychologist, author, theorist, educator

When WeMentor… your life becomes more meaningful!!! Redefine how you lead and mentor while redesigning your business. Dual Innovation with Mentoring WORKS.

Podcast Guest Mentor

Nancy Meyer, M.A.

Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, public speaker, author, and certified mindfulness meditator and yoga integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything she does). Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to build an innovative community where emerging to experienced leaders redefine how they lead while redesigning their businesses. Dual innovation with mentoring works! She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today!

Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are at while inspiring them to breakthrough to new dimensions:

As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator)
As a Small Business Owner (Practitioner)
As a Mentor (Role Model)
As a Human Being.

WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and hear meaningful conversations as you redefine how you lead as you redesign your business. Dual innovation with mentoring works. SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Episode 314: Sustain Your Focus with this Meditation Practice