One way to get it right, an infinite number of ways to get it wrong

In this article: We complete activities faster, with less error and with significantly less stress after we've developed the ability to consciously and intentionally direct our focussed stream of attention.

Although there are innumerable parallel sub-conscious processes happening within the mind / body complex all the time, we have only one conscious stream of attention. Every shift in that conscious stream of attention is an interruption, and interruption is the single biggest barrier to creativity and productivity -- and the biggest contributor to frustration, stress and illness.

Learning new skills and concepts although necessary are not as important as learning to hold our attention on what we're doing despite externalities and internal impulses -- but it is subtle. In essence personal or mindset mastery begins with stabilising and mastering our ability to hold that stream of conscious attention and direct it at will.

For example I could sit down to learn some new technology. And I could despite intense external interruption (from my kids or colleagues), but I will learn it quicker, more accurately and with less frustration without interruption (the myth of multi-tasking) -- at least for the time I have allocated to that activity.

But there are different qualities or methods of 'controlled' or focussed attention. And just like pharmaceuticals there are side effects or contra-indications to each method. Get the method wrong and the contra-indications escalate to the point where the benefits of a focussed stream of attention are dramatically outweighed by the negative consequences.

There are is only one way to get it right, and an infinite number of ways to get it wrong.

Good teachers of meditation, and there are few, are really worth their weight in gold, especially if we add up the significant cost of a life time of lost creativity, productivity and frustration [stress].

One of the principal benefits of meditation lies in the process of discovering and developing that right way. In meditation we work directly on that focussed stream of conscious attention without the added complexity of working on something else while working on attention. One by itself is difficult enough.

What is learned in meditation is almost immediately applied into the real world of work and relationships. The benefits, initial big wins, prove the process and the proof drives practice.

It's another process to apply the understanding, again with many ways to get it wrong and only one way to get it right.

There are many other and in my opinion more significant benefits to meditation, but without the developed ability to intentionally apply [and hold] a very specific type of focussed attention, all endeavour thereafter takes significantly longer, with a significantly higher error rate and increasing levels of frustration and stress.