“When you are studying, it should not matter what is happening around you”.
My father used to tell us in childhood. He reminded of the story of Prince Arjuna from the Epic Mahabharata. Arjuna was a renowned archer. His skill was beyond the human imagination. And his excellence was attributed to the fact that his focus on the target was unbeatable. Once teacher asked all students to practice hitting the target placed on a tree. The target was a toy bird placed amidst the branches of the tree.
As a precursor the teacher asked every student to take an aim and tell what they see. Some said, they could see the tree and the bird placed in tree. Others said they see the leaves and the bird within those leaves. When Arjuna was asked, he said he can see only the bird.
Such a focus on the target, gives the experience of depth. We forget all around and are immersed in the activity in hand. Mostly when we engage in any hobby, we find ourselves lost in time. The time spent in such activities provides the sense of contentment.
With the advent of the internet, we are 24*7 surrounded with the gadgets. The focus span has decreased due to this. We mostly work in the distracted mode. In these times, we should work on identifying some such activity, that can help to move us away from this distraction.
Art, outdoor activities, reading books, gardening and you can add many more items to this as per your choice and liking. Spending some regular time on the activity can help to soothe the senses. It gives a feeling of finding your own zone in the competition of world. Getting in the flow of the task gives us a sense of freedom. Freedom from clutches of time, from the measuring tapes of the world.
Mandala art is suggested to people for calming their nerves. If you have tried to practice it, you will know how brilliant it is. The coloring needs your full precision. The moment you drift, you can end us messing the whole work. In those moments of full attention, you see only the color moving on paper. You only see the space between boundaries to color. After few minutes of this, you can feel the lightness in your head.
Human civilization till now have been labor intensive. There was more scope to create, build with own hands. With mechanization life is easier. However, it has also become passive. This passive lifestyle somewhere burdens our psyche. When we engage in these activities we choose an active engagement. Humans are engineered to work and move. When we create something with our hands, it satisfies our desire to create.
Reading, writing, coloring and gardening are my go-to activities. Find yours and more important, find time for the activity.
