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Focus Deliberately, Wander Deliberately
By Alona · Alona, I founder and CEO behind Spark (My Founders) and Zai. Welcome. Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. We thank you for being here! · · 1 min read
A short reflection on using attention intentionally: focusing when the moment calls for presence and precision, and letting the mind wander when creativity needs room.
Research suggests that our minds drift away from the present surprisingly often. When that wandering pulls attention away from what we are actually doing, it is generally associated with lower moment-to-moment happiness (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010).
But mind wandering is not always a problem. Other research suggests that allowing attention to loosen during easy, undemanding activities can support creative incubation and “aha” insights (Baird et al., 2012).
The real skill, then, may be learning to switch intentionally: focus when the moment requires attention, connection, or precision, and let the mind roam when you are trying to generate ideas, imagine possibilities, or get unstuck.
The goal is not permanent focus or permanent freedom. It is better control over where your attention goes and why.
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