Paying Attention

Based on the excerpt from Amishi Jha's bestseller - Peak Mind, I have written my reflections below:
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Am I paying my full attention to what I am thinking, feeling and doing? Is my attention fully focused, whole -mindedly and whole- heartedly? Am I mindful and aware of what is happening externally and internally? If and when I am not aware of it then my attention will be hijacked. Without paying full attention to what is happening outside of me and inside of me I am getting my own mind imprisoned by myself. I find William James recommendation of bringing the wandering mind over and over again very helpful. Doing it enriches my mind, my learning, my physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual well-being. If I don't do that my life becomes fragmented and it has a strong impact on a variety of functions of my life. It boils down to wise choice making. Right Knowing is Right Being. It is difficult for the mind to be one-pointed, non-flickering like the unflickering flame in a windless place as our mind wanders and gets scattered 30 to 50 percent of our waking moments. There are times when my mind flickers and gets kidnapped by external pleasant sounds, by pleasant sensory objects and by going back to the past events or thinking about future outcomes. Instead of denying what's happening in my mand I recognize it, accept it, and bring my mind back to what I am thinking, feeling and doing. This way my mind remains focused on the stream of here and now consciousness. This way I free myself from the grip of wandering attention. It becomes easy to relate to the present moment fully. This is the art of living. May we cultivate this skill of paying attention to fill the cup of life with wonderment, joy and fulfillment.