When we think of concentration, we think of productivity.
But it’s much more than that.
I recently experienced a (small) family quarrel.
I got angry.
And since it goes against the person I want to be (identity), it upset me long after the argument.
I was in a bad mood. Something that rarely happens to me.
Watching myself, I saw how this state of mind generated frustration.
How do you move from frustration to satisfaction?
Illustration @garyvee – Gary Vaynerchuk
Focus on a project that’s close to your heart
One of my goals for 2024 is to master German.
I set myself the ambitious goal of going from B1 to C1.
I was still upset the day after my family argument, but I threw myself into my morning 90-minute German session.
And something special happened immediately afterward:
- I felt satisfied.
- It gave me the courage to make another good decision. Go for a run.
- On the run, I found the inspiration for this text.
- When I got home, I did another 90-minute writing session, improving (even more) my state of mind.
A replicable model
Reflecting on this situation, I retraced various experiences where the same process occurred.
- Focus on a subject that’s important/interesting to me.
It can be very different. Discover how drawing or playing chess can create the same effect. - Entering a period of “Flow”. An excellent book for further reading on this subject.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - It gives me great satisfaction.
- Satisfaction changes my state of mind.
- This new state of mind increases my chances of making better decisions.
- Creating this mindset increases my capital of luck. A book I read years ago that left a lasting impression on me. The Luck Factor, Richard Wiseman
How can you use this story to accelerate your important projects?
Bad news, a disagreement at work, something on your mind. There’s no shortage of opportunities to alter our mood.
Next time, try this approach:
- Take one of your important projects.
If you don’t have one, create your own using this method😀 - Block 90 minutes.
- Throw yourself into your session without interruption.
- Observe your state of mind before and after in your diary.
- Make your next decision.
- …
Conclusion
Concentration brings much more than productivity.
Use it to speed up your important projects.
What will your next concentration period bring?
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