This will be an active reading. The task is simple: follow the music. Stop reading and direct your concentration entirely to the song.
Did your concentration drift? Did thoughts other than the music occupy your mind? I expect all to answer yes. If the answer is an honest no, please email me immediately so we can discuss your remarkable ability.
I had a coach once tell me, “see a little, see a lot; see a lot, see nothing at all.” Its contradiction perplexed me, taking years for the message to reveal itself. Like the exercise, it illuminates a basic human condition: distraction is the baseline of consciousness; focus must be cultivated and trained.
Remarkable ability, skill, or even peace of mind is not an expansion of awareness but rather a reduction in consciousness. It is the recognition that distractions are natural and expected. While we should strive to create an environment tailored to our goals and well-being, the wall will never be impenetrable. Eye-catching objects and subtle thoughts will trickle in and attempt to disrupt the task at hand.
The figures and role models we aspire to emulate are susceptible to the same distraction-prone nature as us. Their consciousness is gripped by the uncontrollable. Where they differ is in their ability to observe and release the noise while quickly and consistently returning to the target. They choose to improve attention and flow with distraction.
Cultivate your concentration. Observe and release your distractions. Follow the music. See a little, see a lot; see a lot, see nothing at all.
