Distractions Are A Good Thing

yes and yes

I agree with you Roger with alert and active and I also agree with the guru as sometimes we are really distracted by trivial things and events and then it helps to sit and reflect

I'm always inward. That's where the brain is stored, and that's how I work. I have other ways to distract myself, like being here. I'd rather plan things and adjust things creatively if it doesn't work out. Usually I need to play heavy metal to make me focus on the work... And driving.


----Mike Savad

I agree with focusing inward on the breath and the here and now to achieve a state of relaxation.

Creativity is the only form of meditation that I can do that clears my mind where I have no thoughts and that is good.

Introspection to change thoughts from negative to positive with practice has been a good thing for me. Going inward to analyze or overthink is not good for me. I like the here and now...not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now is all I have control over.

I think that I now have to make a distinction between being an introvert and being introspective. I have a ton of distractions in my life and they keep me too busy to worry about my self, such as how tired I am or if my old bones hurt etc and I don't have time to focus on myself.

I still don't socialize well and will avoid being around people whenever possible excluding my small circle of people (family) and I find that I am most creative when I have very little time to be creating. That is kind of frustrating because I often lose ideas in the shuffle of distractions.

So I agree that distractions are a good thing mostly...

During the pandemic I signed up for the MasterClasses online to learn gourmet cooking techniques. I learned more about fashion and several other things.

Then I turned to Jon Zabat Zinn's meditation lessons. There are twenty of them. I found out how troubled my mind and just about everyone else's is. People have oppressive minds. We think non stop. We do non stop. We never stop to just be. Most of us.

All I found was here are some of my thoughts. Here are some of my emotions how do I want to be in relationship to the parts of that and how I live my life? A very valid and valuable question.

I did not get calm very often. That was not the goal. I did begin to get in right relationship with the world. That journey is worth taking.

If per chance you sign up for the masterclasses offer to cancel. The price will be cut in half at least in the second year.

The other classes had an ending. Zabat Zinn's class really has no ending.

David,

Throughout my lifetime, I've tried all sorts of meditations, from T M to Tai Chi, and everything in between.

It always ended in disaster,

Especially, when I bring one of my rats or roaches to the session.

Every time, the instructor, who is in "complete control" goes running out of the room screaming, as everyone else finds it kind of funny

Distractions are good. The question is how long they should last and how to find the right balance.

Roger and the rats, you are such a rascal, I almost fell out of bed laughing
You better start writing a book

Mr Roger, you are biggest guru that I know, much better then any I saw on tv.

I will try to plan unplaned, and to program non programed distractions in order to be alert and creative, wish me luck :)

Distractions can be annoying. Or sometimes a distraction is a good thing. But not while driving!

Inward AND outward in moderation-----I am always looking for SERENDIPITY and embracing that often--love the What-If and Ah-Ha moments!--Best!, Tim

To anyone reading this:

“The Present” The Secret to Enjoying Your Work and Life, Now! By Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Also,

“Psycho- Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz, M.D.,F.I.C.S.

It's a good idea to tell your inner monologue to shut up now and then.

I think I meditate on my own... But I couldn't go to a class. If I don't start levitating I would be annoyed i'm not doing it right, or I'd fall asleep. Still not quite sure what the real definition of mediation actually is though.


----Mike Savad

And yes, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Roger!!! :) Im the first who remember ..

Worries waste energy.
Live with the choices made and learn from said choices.
Today is full of possibilities: it's a unique journey to be embraced uniquely by the individual.

is it your birthday Roger? if so I wish you a wonderful day and many more birthdays to come!

Roger, this is very interesting. Distractions are good for me because I find looking too much inward is boring.

At my real job, there is so much distraction that it's hard to get anything done. I finally got an office where I can close the door, but with all the younger people showing up to the job, things are not so silent as they were. lol

I love distractions though, they just make life richer and more complicated as ever.

Roger,

The rats running around here never stop me from meditating in the nude.

Butt if it matters, I will tell them to go in the other room next time.

If it is your birthday, Roger, then have a very very happy one!

I need a mix of distractions, and focus. Being an introvert, both focus and distractions turn my attention inward though...even if the focus isn't on myself it tends to be personal in some way.

Since I am a moderate ADHD kind of person, distractions are a necessity. Trying some sort of single focus on one thing just doesn't work and I end up making up distractions like looking at the gnat flying around in the room. Additionally, as a cognitive and adaptive strategy, I don't understand just WHY someone would want complete focus on one thing.

If that one thing is a hike in the forest and the focus is on the trail, you'd miss the mountain lion that's been stalking you. If you're surfing, focusing on the wave, you'd miss the jagged rock that's in your trajectory.

Granted, some balance is necessary to prevent focus from becoming obsession or distractibility from becoming too diffuse, but, the human brain (IMO) is not meant to just see one thing. That's why we can multi-task and be aware of our surroundings. It's real important to be able to see the things that we're NOT focusing on.

i'm sorry i was distracted... what were we taking about?

Distractions and their impact on the mind and creativity are debated topics. Clearing the mind of distractions can lead to focus and self-understanding, while unplanned distractions can stimulate creativity and provide mental breaks.

The impact varies for each individual. Finding a balance that suits your needs and goals is important.

Context is important, too. Distraction to create art is fine but I don't want my surgeon distracted when using their fine motor skills.

Distractions are a good thing so long as I'm living in the present moment and not allowing the distractions to take me out of the present moment, except maybe just momentary.

Don't like distractions at all. They are annoying and inefficient. If I start something I want to finish it without any distraction. Reading the responses here, it seems I am the only one who thinks that way

Meditations are good and you don't have to follow a "school" invented by a bored out of his mind guru or waste your money on a class, and you certainly don't have to chant "Ohm" or "AUM" ! (Fibonacci frequency 369, "the sound the universe makes")

I meditate pretty much every morning. I just sit there for 20 min. or so waiting for things to happen in my mind and things always happen.

Having the ability to control my curiosity when I am trying to accomplish something is a skill that I continue to work on. : )

Rudy,

RE:..."...every morning. I just sit there for 20 min. or so waiting for things to happen ..."


This morning. I sat there for way over 20 min, waiting for the woodpecker to land on the feeder outside my window, so I can take today's photo, for Abbie's current challenge.

The 'pecker finally did arrive., and took a lousy photo to satisfy the challenge

Robert,


RE....... "Having the ability to control my curiosity when I am trying to accomplish something is a skill.."


That is why my primary word in a recent thread I ran was... and still is:

DISCIPLINE

That doesn't mean that one should just disregard these distractions, but, instead, "bank" them in your being for possible future use

Roger,

I am not just waiting for things to happen, I am waiting for things to happen in my mind (which can be a busy place from time to time)

Rudy,

RE:.. " I am waiting for things to happen in my mind "


Ah! There's the Rub

When I focus inward, very unpleasant thoughts, happen in my mind.

It causes me to concentrate on my age, with all its accompanying aches and pains, along with the ever present threat of vertigo.

To the point of incapacitation.


When my thoughts are outward to the amazing universe around me, I'm STRONG without any hint of those ills, an old coot is expected to endure.

well Roger, I guess I am the lucky one because my thoughts are most of the time focused outwards and quite pleasant in the end

However, some thoughts are like an airplane oxygen mask. Remember how they always tell you to put your own mask on first because if you don't, you might not be able to help the person next to you and then there are two victims. In other words, inwards thoughts are not necessarily bad. Not even if they are unpleasant. (I could make a dentist analogy here)

Forget all your aches and pains! Don't concentrate on those. They are not important. (I have a few myself)

I’m always subconsciously scanning as my day job is driving, i can see instantly distractions, distractions are mostly a good thing and those keep me safe.

There are some distractions which i wish i didn’t see or hear.

Distractions that keep you safe while you are driving are not distraction’s, especially not if driving is your job

Those are called paying attention.

Rudy,

RE:... "Forget all your aches and pains! "


That's what I'm doing...

I've committed myself to doing and completing outside projects.

1....Responsible for the birthday cake for all the Geminis, at this Friday evening's Pig Roast.

I've come up with this crazy idea of using votive candles instead regular birthday candles.... with all the Geminis (including me) taking turns snuffing out a candle, one by one, employing the snuffer I devised, using one half of a tea leaf strainer, some wire and a bit of aluminum foil...Sure beats spittle laden blowing.


2.... While waiting to order the cake early tomorrow morning, I'm using my mind to come up with something hopefully a bit different, in Abbie's Sketch Challenge,,, (This time it's "Hot Air Balloon") I'm committed to.


Now, I have to cook dinner.


By the way, I hate driving..always have,...Keep thinking of all the stupid things I might do....and all the stupid things all the drivers around me might do,...I've become a paranoic, overly defensive driver