DEVELOP THE POWERS OF CONCENTRATION

Articles In This Section:

· Mental Exercises vs. Physical Exercises - part 1

· Mental Exercises vs. Physical Exercises - part 2

· Mental Exercises vs. Physical Exercises - part 3

· MENTAL EXERCISES

· USE YOUR CREATIVE MIND TO STIMULATE YOUR MIND

· DEVELOP THE POWERS OF CONCENTRATION

· CREATE IMAGINARY OBJECTIVES - part 1

· CREATE IMAGINARY OBJECTIVES - part 2

When a child, did you ever play with a magnifying glass, using it to focus the rays of the sun on a given object so that enough heat would be generated to cause a flame? You can do the same with mind. When you learn to focus your thoughts—without interference—on a specific objective, it is astounding how much mental power you will bring into being.

You can develop the powers of mental concentration through practice, and the more you practice, the more fruitful will be the results.

A simple exercise is to see how long you can keep your thoughts on a single object. For example, place a book on a table, sit near it, and see if you can keep your mind focused on it for five minutes. It sounds easy, but it takes practice. You can think about any phase of the book you wish: the title, the jacket design, the nature of the contents. You can think about the printing and binding of the book. If you are interested in merchandising, think about the method used in advertising and selling it. But keep your mind on some phase of the book.

After you have finished your period of concentration, take a sheet of paper and write a brief essay on the book. Do the same following every period of concentration. After a few weeks, compare these essays and note the improvement. You will not only be improving your powers of observation, but also adding to your ability to express yourself. It is not necessary to take a book each time. Change to any item convenient to you: the television set, a lamp, your hat, etc.

One man, dubbed a "scatterbrain" by his friends, became known as a man with a very keen mind after a few weeks of these exercises.