When you were a kid, teachers and parents probably told you to concentrate. And as an adult, you likely often think about how much more productive, present, and happy you'd be if only you had better focus. But despite how much we think about our desire to improve our focus, no one ever gets any training in how to do it and even explains what focus is, exactly.
My guest today is an exception to that rule. He was taught the secrets to concentration when he spent ten years as a Hindu monk, and today he's on a mission to share them with others. His name is Dandapani, and he continues to live as a Hindu priest, though he's now also an entrepreneur and author, with a book just published called The Power of Unwavering Focus. Today on the show, Dandapani defines focus and shares the existential reasons why developing yours is so vital. He explains how that development begins with understanding how the mind is different from awareness, that where awareness goes, energy flows, and the need to bring awareness to attention. We walk through how to stop practicing distraction and start practicing concentration by making each of your daily activities a focused practice, and ultimately, making your whole day a practice. We also discuss how daily sessions of meditation are inadequate for developing focus, how mindfulness is different than concentration, and how the ability to control and direct your awareness is one of the greatest powers you can possess.
Resources Related to the PodcastHow Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike's Granddaughter
Developing Your Personal Uniform
Anxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It
Beyond OODA — Developing the Orientation for Conflict and Violence
Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life
The World of the Transcendentalists and the Rise of Modern Individualism
A Playbook for Modern Dating
Becoming a Hybrid Athlete
How to Shift Out of the Midlife Malaise
We Need a P.E. Revolution
How to Make Life’s Big Decisions
Get on Top of Collaboration Overload
How Long Does It Take to Make Friends (And How Does That Process Work, Anyway)?
The Rise and Fall of Athens
Philosophical Tools for Living the Good Life
The New Science of Narcissism
The Code of the Warrior
Become a Focused Monotasker
Fat Loss Made Simple
The Tiny Habits That Change Everything
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free