Multitasking vs. Focus: MindScape Gives Perspective

Mar 27, 2015

By Andrea Carter

In a recent addition of Scientific American Mind, there was a brilliant article titled, "SuperTaskers and the Multitasking Brain," which beautifully summarized the importance of focus and the need for a tool like MindScape.

With our swell of responsibilities, bombardment of information, multitasking has virtually become the new-age rage.  Yet, what studies are now showing is that concentration and focus are suffering dearly.  Because the human mind is incapable of paying attention to everything within our environment, (we address this concept at the basic level in Principles of Consciousness, formerly known as Module 3), it picks up on what is relevant to us and ignores what is not.  When we are focused on one particular task, our mind will filter out all of the "irrelevant" background noise.  When this happens, our attention is focused and according to scientific research, our cognition becomes actively engaged in a healthy way which supports growth of new neurons and healthy brain functioning.

 
On the other hand, when we are trying to accomplish more than one task at a time, i.e., answering a text, reading an email, and talking to someone, (which is now known to be done all at the same time), our mind loses function and processing power, which studies are now showing leads to deterioration of cognitive functioning. I interpret this as our brain pathways shorting out, and our mind's ability to receive the information becoming completely scattered.  Remember that our experience can only receive information from our environment through the five senses and, as such, if we are not focused, we cannot interpret the information "flying around" us fully. As Einstein once put it, "Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is not giving the kiss the attention it deserves." 
 
In the MindScape course, what you learn is focus your attention fully on what you are doing, experiencing, and creating.  Engaging this function enables the brain to grow new neural pathways and gives the mind the ability to flourish by "tuning into" the creative functions of the mind. What we know in science is that more synapses mean more brain power.  According to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, people who imagine flexing a muscle increase both their brain activity and muscle strength (Scientific American Mind, March/April 2012 issue).  When you train in MindScape, you learn to do this not only for exercise but also for many avenues in your life.  MindScape is not about your clients, MindScape is about you first and learning to exercise your brain function so you can be more efficient, more effective, and more focused. Once you've learned to use this skill and exercise it regularly, your ability to home in on what is happening with your client will become more and more accurate because you are able to be more focused. Then, the Advanced MindScape Courses, which have been uniquely designed by each MindScape Instructor, further support growth and focus in more targeted ways.  

Print this Article | Facebook | Twitter

« Back to all news

 
Home Learn More Practitioners Courses Membership Testimonials
Who We Are BodyTalk Find a Practitioner Find a Course Join Today Videos
Get the Newsletter Access Become a Practitioner Founder's Courses Membership at a Glance Foundation
Contact Us Breakthrough Practitioner Levels Beginner's Courses Membership Levels Store
FAQ Mindscape BodyTalk as a Career View All Instructors Membership Prices Media Kit
Privacy Policy News Invest in Yourself Course Listing




Copyright © 2005 - 2024 International BodyTalk Association (IBA) | Legal