Discover how concentration is linked to our physical posture and how our body influences our attention.
Concentration doesn't start in our mind, but in our body. Yet, we tend to mentally force ourselves, wanting more effort, willpower, and discipline to concentrate.
If you're struggling to concentrate, it might not be an attention issue, but a stability one. Attention doesn't manifest on command; it settles when our system is ready to welcome it. If our body is already compensating, it becomes difficult to focus.
We often think standing is automatic, but it’s actually an active effort. Our feet, eyes, and inner ear constantly send information to our brain, which continuously corrects micro-imbalances. Being stable means swaying without falling.
Balance is not a fixed state, but a choreography. This choreography requires intention. Researchers like Shumway and Peterka have demonstrated that simply standing consumes energy. The more unstable the task, the more resources our brain mobilizes to maintain our posture.
To illustrate this, try standing on one leg with your eyes closed while counting down from 100 to zero. You will likely notice that you wobble and your brain has to make a choice. In 80% of cases, it will choose to maintain balance rather than focus on the math.
This rule, often referred to as reflexive stability, shows that our brain prioritizes balance over the mental task. It’s crucial to maintain stability to avoid falling, as losing balance is a vital risk.
Often, the individuals I work with come with concentration difficulties, believing that the solution lies in a new tool or miracle method. However, we always start with the body because that’s what we can control from the inside.
Sometimes it only takes a week to see significant results, to feel more grounded and start moving forward. It’s not because they are forcing more, but because their system becomes available.
Imagine your attention as a glass of water and your body as the table it rests on. No matter how hard you try to concentrate, if the table shakes, the glass will spill. The problem doesn’t lie in the glass, but in what it rests on.
If you’re looking to regain your concentration, don’t force it. Return to your axis, as everything starts in the body. If you don’t know where to begin, we have an ebook with practical exercises to help you regain your balance.
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