Focus and Flow
99% of our problems come from lack of focus
Preface
Periodically I find information which allows me to become more like the person I need to become in order to bring about the future of abundance and prosperity Thorium can facilitate.
The way we bring about abundance is to first focus on our own skills, especially our ability to intentionally direct our attention and focus on specific tasks. “Where attention goes, energy flows”
This week I committed to a project at work which was more ambitious than I had believed, the hardware didn't get here until 3pm Friday afternoon and I was on-site until 9pm trying to get everything wired up and tested.
I got most of the wiring but the software is giving me trouble. So I’ve had to bring that home to work on. I must not have properly focused to get this done or it would be done and I wouldn’t have to bring it home over the weekend.
On my drive home as I was looking at the city lights from the highway, I was reminded of a conversation I previously heard. Dandapani, a Hindu priest, entrepreneur, and former monk, mentioned the phrase: "Where awareness goes, energy flows," a saying from Dandapani's guru, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
Below are the points from his linked video, below that are waterfall after waterfall of personal development systems and habits video summaries. I will be referring back to this writing often to help me avoid the pitfalls I encountered this week.
Key Points:
Awareness and Energy:
Awareness is likened to a glowing ball of light moving through the mind.
Different areas of the mind are associated with different emotions and topics (e.g., anger, happiness, health, science, food, etc.).
Wherever your awareness goes in the mind, energy flows to that area.(try maintaining your focus on the sensation of your heart beating. It makes for a good mediation, can you keep it there for >60 seconds?)
Growth and Development:
Energy is like water; it nurtures and grows whatever it is directed towards, without discerning between positive or negative.
If you direct your energy (awareness) to a particular area of the mind, that area will grow and strengthen.
Training the Mind:
Repeatedly directing awareness to a specific area of the mind creates a path, making it easier for awareness to flow there in the future.
For example, if someone frequently allows their awareness to go to the angry area of the mind, that area becomes stronger and more easily triggered.
Magnetism of Energy:
Energy is magnetic, so the more energy an area of the mind accumulates, the more it attracts your awareness.
People who often direct their awareness to specific emotions (e.g., anger or happiness) make those areas more magnetic, influencing their default emotional responses.
Creating Patterns:
The mind doesn’t inherently know what is good or bad for you; it follows patterns established through repetition.
Consistently directing awareness towards particular thoughts or emotions creates patterns, which can be either beneficial or detrimental.
Rituals and Repetition:
In monk school, rituals are crucial. From waking up to going to sleep, activities are ritualized, creating positive, intentional patterns in the mind.
Repetition, whether conscious or unconscious, ingrains patterns in the mind, which can be challenging to break.
Dandapani’s Conclusion:
Dandapani emphasizes the importance of consciously directing awareness to cultivate positive areas of the mind and create beneficial patterns. By understanding and applying the principle that energy flows where awareness goes, individuals can intentionally nurture and develop specific areas of their mind, influencing their emotions, reactions, and overall mental well-being. This approach aligns with the concept of neuroplasticity, suggesting that intentional, repeated focus can reshape and retrain the mind.
I have dozens of guides and insights from my exploration.
You could share your own so I can improve myself
I’ll periodically share these guides, and links, when my Thorium & abundance specific writing isn’t quite polished enough for publishing week to week.
Initiating Flow - Introduction
Often times I’ll learn something amazing, build the ideas into a habit for a period, then get interrupted, lose the habit and forget the critical lessons. By writing these guides and publishing them I’m able to better stack lessons in a place I can return to anytime I want to refresh a useful habit or skill.
We live during an age where attention is economy, where our ability to intentionally direct our attention and focus is paramount to our success. There’s an unlimited supply of cute cats, dogs, babies, projects, products, and media refined to catch and keep our precious time and attention.
These lessons provided by Ryan Doris an entrepreneur and digital educator have helped me in varying aspects of my work and personal development. I hope maybe you’ll obtain some benefits by reading, watching, or listening to his high quality lessons.
1. Understand the Importance of Focus
We live in an age of distraction, and deep focus is essential for productivity.
One hour of deep focus is more effective than three hours of unfocused work.
2. Set Clear Goals
Before starting any task, have a clear goal and a step-by-step plan.
Avoid distractions like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X-Twitter when you don't have a clear task.
3. Set Deadlines
Work expands to fill the time given. Create a sense of urgency.
Pressure yourself to complete tasks within a set timeframe.
4. Overcome the "Itch" to Distract
Fight the urge to take breaks too soon or get distracted.
Push through initial distractions, and it will get easier to focus.
5. Maintain Good Posture
Sit straight to boost alertness.
Avoid laying back as it can make you sleepy.
6. Stay Aware and Learn from Mistakes
Recognize when you're getting distracted and learn from it.
7. Get Sunlight
Work in well-lit areas or get sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythm.
8. Harness Your Emotions
Associate tasks with positive feelings.
Visualize the satisfaction of completing tasks while working on them.
9. Use Binaural Beats
Binaural beats can help enhance focus, especially in noisy environments.
10. Take Regular Breaks
Rest between deep focus sessions.
Short breaks to walk or stretch to help reset your brain.
11. Practice Meditation
Meditation can improve cognition and reduce distractions.
12. Diet and Exercise
Avoid sugar, especially for breakfast.
Consume a high-protein breakfast.
Exercise before focused work to improve cognition.
13. Prioritize Quality Sleep
Sleep affects productivity, IQ, and growth hormone production.
14. Develop Good Habits
Habits play a crucial role in productivity.
Make hard work a norm and avoid distractions like junk food or video games.
15. Establish a Morning Routine
Avoid cheap dopamine tasks like watching videos first thing in the morning.
Do the most focus-intensive work in the morning.
Keep your phone out of sight when working.
16. Take Action
All the above tips are meaningless without action. Implement them and see the difference.
Remember, the key to improving focus and attention span is consistency and practice. Implement these strategies in your daily routine and stay committed to the process.
Want More? Watch or Read:
Based on the video "How To Unlock Insane Focus On Command" by Rian Doris, here's a guide to enhancing and improving focus:
Understanding Flow
Flow is a state of consciousness where work feels effortless.
It's experienced during activities where you're fully absorbed, such as biking, surfing, dancing, or working on a significant project.
Many of humanity's greatest achievements have occurred in this state.
The Four Pillars of Flow:
Flow Blockers:
Modern work environments are filled with distractions that block flow.
Common blockers include smartphones, which are packed with distractions and stress-inducing notifications.
Solution: Flow Before Phone - Spend the first 2-3 hours of your day working on high-priority tasks before checking your phone.
Flow Proneness:
This refers to your natural tendency to enter a flow state.
To maximize flow proneness, make your body, mind, and environment conducive to flow.
Tip: Start working within 90 seconds of waking up. Your flow proneness is highest in the morning.
Flow Triggers:
These are conditions that drive us into flow.
Examples include clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between challenge and skill.
For work, ensure tasks are about 4% more challenging than your current skill level.
Flow Cycle:
Flow states are cyclical, not binary.
The cycle includes:
Struggle: The initial phase where you face challenges.
Release: A phase where you let go of the struggle and allow your subconscious to take over.
Flow: The desired state where you're fully immersed and productive.
Recovery: A phase to recuperate and integrate the knowledge or skills acquired during flow.
Practical Tips to Enhance Focus:
Persist Through Struggle: Most people give up during the initial struggle phase. Persisting through this phase is crucial to enter a flow state.
Attention Span Stretching: Train your attention span by gradually increasing the time you spend on tasks. For instance, read a book continuously or extend your meditation sessions.
Understand the Flow Cycle: Recognize the different phases of the flow cycle and navigate through them effectively.
By understanding and applying these principles, you can achieve consistent productivity and unlock incredible focus. Remember, the key is to create an environment conducive to flow, understand the triggers, and navigate the flow cycle effectively.
Still Hungry for More!?
Based on the video "Why Your Brain Can't Get Anything Done" by Rian Doris, here's "Ryan's Comprehensive Guide" to understanding and overcoming the invisible enemy that sabotages your performance:
Introduction:
An invisible, unnamed enemy is sabotaging your performance daily.
This enemy is not the usual suspects like phones, social media, or dopamine distractions.
It's something more pervasive and insidious: Friction.
Understanding Friction:
What is Friction?
Moments of irritation that spike cortisol, the body's stress response.
Tiny zaps of irritation that waste your time and sap your attention.
Makes your thinking jagged, suppressing creativity and constricting your consciousness.
Types of Friction:
Friction as a Deterrent: Use friction to block negative behaviors. For instance, adding extra steps to access savings can deter unnecessary spending.
Friction as a Catalyst: Remove friction to promote positive behaviors. For example, having a ready-to-use workspace at home can make starting work easier.
Systemic Friction: The "I have to deal with this" moments that interrupt smooth, linear application of effort. Examples include finding things, untangling items, maintenance tasks, etc.
Strategies to Overcome Friction:
Recognize the Impact: Understand that even minor inconveniences can chip away at cognitive resources, causing stress and disrupting flow.
Setup for Success: Have a dedicated workspace with a desktop that's always ready to go.
Organize Essentials: Attach frequently used items like AirPods to car keys for easy access.
Streamline Password Management: Use tools to handle two-factor authentication and password changes.
Meal Prep: Pre-plan meals to eliminate decision fatigue related to food choices.
Automate Updates: Set devices to update during off-hours to avoid work interruptions.
Identify Daily Friction Points: Think about your daily routine and identify where systemic friction lies. Develop strategies to eradicate these points.
The Goal: Superfluidity
Superfluidity is a state where one transitions seamlessly from one high-value activity to another without resistance.
By reducing systemic friction, we can achieve this state, spending most of our time on tasks that advance our professional goals.
The aim is to engineer the environment to remove friction points, even if they seem trivial, as they can have a significant cumulative impact.
Conclusion:
Harness the power of being an "executive athlete" by understanding and reducing friction in your daily life. Achieve a state of superfluidity where you can effortlessly transition between tasks, maximizing productivity and achieving your goals.
You Still want more!!!?!?
A Comprehensive Guide to Remembering and Forgetting
Based on the video, here's a comprehensive guide to understanding the dynamics of memory, the processes of remembering and forgetting, and strategies to enhance memory:
Understanding Memory and Forgetting:
Forgetting is not just a passive process; it's an active one with its own neurotransmitters and pathways.
Memorization and forgetting are two separate active processes.
Progressing Norms:
Memories in our brain are stored with cues or tags. When we can't find the right cue, it leads to transient forgetting.
To combat this, introduce novelty. New, unique cues lead to stronger memories.
Learning and Forgetting:
Our brain is not like a hard drive. When we input new information, we often override previous information.
This phenomenon is called proactive inhibition. To avoid it, be strategic about cramming. Revise what you already know rather than learning entirely new concepts.
The Power of Intuition:
Experts in a field can memorize information faster due to their intuition and understanding of the subject.
Build your intuition by exposing yourself to the subject matter in various forms.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Learning:
Instead of learning topics in a vertical manner (topic followed by details), learn them horizontally. Connect topics with similar characteristics or themes.
This method makes it easier to remember as everything is interconnected.
The Role of Intuition in Memory:
Intuition can help in memorizing. For instance, before learning a language, just listening to it can build intuition.
This intuition helps in sensing if something sounds right or wrong, even if you don't know the grammatical rules.
The Importance of Mental Health:
Your mental state plays a significant role in memory and performance.
Taking care of your mental health can make a big difference in academic performance and memory retention.
The Power of Storytelling:
The narrative we tell ourselves can be empowering or disempowering.
Believing in oneself and one's capabilities can overcome challenges that might seem insurmountable.
Therapy and Memory:
Therapy can be a tool to help address memory challenges, especially if they are tied to mental health issues.
Online platforms like BetterHelp can provide access to therapy, making it more accessible to many.
Final Thoughts:
Be kind to yourself and others.
Don't believe everything you think. Challenge your beliefs and narratives.
Remember, memory is a complex process influenced by various factors, including our mental state, the strategies we employ, and our beliefs about ourselves. By understanding these dynamics and employing effective strategies, we can enhance our memory and reduce the instances of forgetting.
I can’t believe you’re still here but I’ll just keep these guides coming for you.
Ryan's Comprehensive Guide to Flow
Based on the video, here's a comprehensive guide to understanding the flow cycle, its stages, and how to harness it for peak performance:
Introduction to Flow:
Flow is not a binary state; it's cyclical.
It's a four-stage cycle: Struggle, Release, Flow, and Recovery.
Understanding this cycle is essential for accessing flow consistently.
The Flow Cycle:
Struggle:
This phase feels like pushing a boulder uphill.
It involves hard work, pushing cognitive and physical limits.
It's characterized by high stress, with the release of norepinephrine and cortisol.
Many people spend their careers in this phase, never experiencing flow.
Release:
This phase occurs when you step back from the problem or task.
It allows the subconscious mind to take over.
The brainwave patterns shift from beta (normal waking consciousness) to alpha (relaxation and daydreaming).
To trigger the relaxation response, take a "boring break" like drinking tea or staring at a wall.
Flow:
The main event where you're deeply absorbed in the task.
The brain produces a high Theta wave pattern, associated with increased creativity and insight.
A cocktail of neurochemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, and anandamide, is released, amplifying focus, endurance, and creativity.
Recovery:
After the exertion of flow, the body and mind need time to recuperate.
The body replenishes neurotransmitters expended in the Flow State.
Active recovery methods, like ice baths, saunas, and sleep, can help reduce the allostatic load and return you to baseline faster.
This phase culminates in the "flow afterglow," a deeply satisfying feeling of accomplishment.
Engaging the Flow Cycle:
The challenge before the struggle phase is starting to struggle.
Two things can happen: Avoidance or Engagement.
Engaging in the struggle is the hardest part, but once mastered, it makes moving through the rest of the cycle easier.
Tips for Harnessing the Flow Cycle:
Recognize and Relish the Flow Afterglow: The more you experience it, the more you'll want it.
Engage in the Struggle Gracefully: Persist through discomfort, knowing flow is on the other side.
Release Rapidly: Dislodge your attention to allow subconscious processing.
Flow Deeply: Block distractions and maintain impulse control.
Recover Aggressively: Clear the allostatic load from your system rapidly.
Pro Tip:
Use caffeine to get into flow faster and stay in flow longer.
In conclusion, the flow cycle is a powerful tool for achieving peak performance. By understanding its stages and how to navigate them, you can consistently access this state of deep focus and productivity. Remember, the key is to engage in the struggle, release, immerse yourself in the flow, and then recover effectively.
You must love these! I’ve got so many, better just keep going ;)
Ryan's Ultimate Guide to Flow and Behavioral Consistency
Based on the video, here's a comprehensive guide to harnessing the power of time and habits to achieve peak performance and behavioral consistency:
Introduction:
Time can be the most potent tool to ensure flawless behavioral consistency.
Achieving self-mastery at every level becomes inevitable when you harness the power of time.
The Power of Domino Habits:
A domino habit is a habit that, when done, autocorrects the rest of your behavior for the day.
It's the one habit that ensures the rest of your day is maximally efficient, productive, and aligned.
Temporal Landmarks:
Temporal landmarks are dates or times of significance that separate our past selves from our future selves.
They produce a "fresh start" effect, leading to behavioral consistency.
By adopting intraday temporal landmarks within a 24-hour cycle, you get a continuous fresh start effect.
The Hinge Mechanism:
Think of your day as a series of doors, each swinging on its hinge.
Each alarm acts as a hinge, a turning point in your day, guiding you from one activity to the next.
These hinges decrease cognitive load, simplify decision-making, and outsource time management.
Steps to Implement the Hinge Mechanism:
Identify Your Domino Habit: Determine the one habit that, when done, autocorrects the rest of your day.
Reverse Engineer Temporal Landmarks: Identify the essential milestones in the 24 hours before your domino habit. These landmarks ensure you stay on track.
Set Your Hinges: Set alarms for each temporal landmark. These alarms alert you to the fact that you've reached a temporal landmark, signaling a phase shift to stay on track for your domino habit.
Common Mistakes:
Avoid setting more than six hinges. Anything more than six can disrupt the natural flexibility in your day.
What If You Miss a Hinge or Domino Habit?:
If you miss a hinge or your domino habit, turn with the next hinge. By doing so, you'll be back on track for the next 24-hour cycle.
Conclusion:
By using the hinge mechanism, you remove the onus of consistency from one domino habit. Instead, you have multiple chances to win with each hinge.
This approach is a simple mechanism of using time itself to keep you on track with consistent peak performance behavior in every 24-hour period.
By understanding and implementing these principles, you can harness the power of time and habits to achieve peak performance and behavioral consistency in your daily life.
I love your persistence Keep going!!!
Ryan's Comprehensive Guide to Morning Productivity and Flow
Based on the video, here's a comprehensive guide to harnessing the power of mornings, understanding the flow state, and achieving peak productivity:
The Morning Routine Dilemma:
Many people either have an elaborate morning routine filled with biohacks but don't start actual work until late morning, or they lack a routine altogether, leading to a rushed and stressful start.
The goal is to find a balance between these extremes.
The Power of Flow:
Flow is a peak state of consciousness where work feels effortless, and productivity surges.
Upon waking, our flow proneness (tendency to experience flow) is at its highest due to low cognitive load and brain waves close to flow.
The Billionaire Approach vs. The Biohacker Approach:
Billionaires often dive straight into work upon waking, maximizing their natural flow state.
Biohackers, on the other hand, have elaborate morning routines designed to boost flow later in the day.
The key is to find a balance between these two approaches to avoid burnout and maximize productivity.
The Ideal Morning Routine:
Wake Up and Flow:
Dive into your highest priority work within 90 seconds of waking up.
This takes advantage of the brain's natural flow state upon waking.
Work for 1-3 hours in this state.
Inverted Morning Routine:
After the initial work session, engage in activities that make you feel good: lemon water, stretching, yoga, red light therapy, ice baths, etc.
This is the recovery phase, essential for avoiding burnout and recharging for the rest of the day.
Tips for Implementing the Ideal Routine:
Prepare in Advance:
Set up your task the night before in extreme detail.
This ensures you can start work immediately upon waking without wasting time figuring out what to do.
Allocate Enough Time:
Aim for 1-3 hours of dedicated high-priority work in the morning.
This allows you to fully harness the flow state.
Conclusion:
By blending the best practices of both the billionaire and biohacker approaches, you can harness the power of the flow state, boost productivity, and set a strong tone for the rest of the day.
Challenge yourself to implement this routine: prepare your task the night before, dive into work upon waking, and then engage in a recovery routine to recharge.
By understanding and implementing these principles, you can transform your mornings into a powerhouse of productivity and flow, setting the stage for a successful day ahead.
You’re a Grow Mindset Machine! More coming!
Ryan's Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Dopamine for Hyper-Focus and Flow State
Based on the video, here's a comprehensive guide to understanding and harnessing the power of dopamine for enhanced focus and productivity:
Introduction:
Dopamine, often referred to as the "molecule of more," is a neurochemical responsible for reward, motivation, and attention.
While it can lead to distractions like social media scrolling, it can also be harnessed for hyper-focus and peak performance.
The Role of Dopamine:
Dopamine plays a crucial role in focusing our attention.
It's the reward we receive for engaging in certain activities, making us crave more of the same stimulation.
However, overstimulation can desensitize us to dopamine, requiring more stimulation to achieve the same reward.
Resensitizing to Dopamine:
The goal is not to "detox" dopamine but to become more sensitive to it.
High sensitivity means you require less stimulation to focus, while low sensitivity means you need more stimulation.
Resensitizing boosts impulse control, allowing for delayed gratification and making tasks feel more rewarding.
Steps to Master Your Dopaminergic System:
Make the Boring Rewarding:
Modify how you take breaks. Instead of dopamine-fueled activities like social media, opt for "boring" breaks.
Activities like wall-staring, napping, walking, stretching, mindfulness, and light exercise can reset dopamine levels.
The goal is to make work feel as engaging as leisure activities.
Inhabit the In-Between:
Utilize moments of waiting or downtime to be present instead of reaching for distractions.
This reduces unintentional information consumption and makes you more sensitive to dopamine over time.
Single-Tasking:
Focus on one activity at a time.
Rapidly shifting between tasks can disrupt the balance between the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) and Task Positive Network (TPN).
Embrace life as a series of singular activities for enhanced focus.
Conclusion:
Mastering your dopaminergic system involves understanding its role in attention and reward.
By taking intentional breaks, being present in moments of downtime, and focusing on one task at a time, you can harness dopamine for hyper-focus and peak performance.
Embracing these practices can transform work into play, offering a significant competitive advantage.
By understanding and implementing these principles, you can leverage dopamine to enhance focus, productivity, and achieve consistent flow states in your daily activities.
https://www.youtube.com/@riandoris
You’ve got so far may as well keep going!
While all of this is helpful, I will have a more forward looking article for you next week. Stay Vigilant.