How to improve your concentration

We all know what it’s like to feel distracted. Sometimes it’s like we can’t even sit down for two minutes to focus on one thing.

We start something. Then we get a message on WhatsApp and we lose our train of thought…

…what was it we were doing again? Ugh.

Needless to say, trying to focus can often feel like an uphill battle.

Not just in our everyday work, but also in our spiritual practices. 

It’s like when you sit down to concentrate in silence, and instead of silence your mind shoots off:

“OK, so I’ve got a meeting with that person on Tuesday … Oh, the laundry has got to go in around 2 p.m. … Did I tell my landlord about that leak in the kitchen already?”

If this happens to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone – and there’s not anything wrong with you. It happens to everybody, especially in the beginning.

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Hi! My name is Lisa and I am a staff team member at The Aetherius Society in Los Angeles. I am doing my best to live a spiritual life.

My inspiration is the teaching of my Spiritual Master Dr. George King, and the Cosmic Masters who spoke through him giving their wisdom to Earth. 

Every other week I’ll be sharing with you an aspect of King Yoga that I have found especially inspiring and helpful to me on the Spiritual Path. 

This week we’re talking about concentration.

Concentration is the foundation of all spiritual practice.

For anyone who has found themselves struggling to concentrate, here’s a couple pointers from Dr. King’s lecture ‘Concentration, Contemplation, Meditation’:

There are many, many exercises which allow you to get some control of your conscious mind. 

And one of the exercises which is probably more potent than any other exercise, strangely enough, is repetition—or, as some people call it, affirmation. 

A potent, positive, well balanced—well balanced—affirmation will help you to gain concentration. 

Because while you are affirming something to yourself, or even out loud—and it’s easier to do out loud, by the way—while you are doing this, your conscious mind is not thinking so much of other things.

Wondering what you can do to apply this insight? Here’s an example of something you can try today:

When you find yourself struggling to concentrate, stop whatever you’re doing (as long as it’s safe!) and just become aware of your breathing. Start to make your breath slow, deep and even – but without any undue strain. Do this for about a minute. When you are ready, repeat the following affirmation to yourself out loud: “I am the Master of my mind and my body.” Do this five times and then detach, and return back to whatever you were doing beforehand.

Let me know how that works for you!

‘Concentration, Contemplation, Meditation’ is an excellent class with lots of practical tools you can try in order to develop your own powers of concentration so you don’t have to feel like you’re at the mercy of your own mind all the time.

Pick it up from our online shop and discover:

  • What to do, what not to do and what to definitely avoid when you are saying an affirmation to yourself.
  • A practice anyone can use to enhance their mental abilities almost immediately.
  • A technique to help you control your thoughts and start to achieve mastery over your conscious mind – without needing to force anything (which doesn’t work anyway).

Feel free to reply to this email with any questions you have about today’s practice, or with topics you’d like me to cover for you in future.

Love and blessings,
Lisa
www.aetherius.org