How To Be More Productive in Life?
The Essence of Zanshin
On April 13, 1612, two legendary swordsmen fought to prove their prowess. The audience was in awe, but one combatant was conspicuously absent, fashioning a wooden sword from a boat’s oar instead of preparing for the duel. He arrived three hours late, a deliberate move driven by his mastery of zazen.
This swordsman was Miyamoto Musashi, and his opponent, Sasaki Kojiro. The officials and Kojiro were infuriated by Musashi’s tardiness, perceiving it as an insult.
Legend recounts that Kojiro, in his fury, threw away his sheath, signaling a fight to the death. As the duel commenced, Kojiro’s first strike, fueled by rage, proved fatal as Musashi swiftly crushed his skull with a precise vertical blow.
Musashi’s victory was rooted in zanshin, an unwavering focus free from distractions. He demonstrated this by simply moving on after his win. So, how can one cultivate zanshin?
Beliefs of Zanshin:
Winning and Losing Are By-Products
Zanshin advocates living with a mind wholly focused on its purpose, undistracted by pleasure, loss, or achievement. The battle ends not with victory or defeat, but when you walk away. For example:
Diet: The battle ends not when you lose weight, but when you stop caring about what you eat.
Writing: The battle ends not with a bestseller or lack of funds, but when you have nothing more to write.
In Zen Buddhism, there’s a saying: “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few.” Mastery often leads to rigid thinking. Experts form fixed ideas on how things should be done, limiting their vision.
Winning can solidify these notions, while frequent losses might lead to believing success is due to luck or other external factors. Have you noticed how some musicians lose their spark? They repeat the same formula without innovation.
Society Craves Results
Society celebrates achievers. Einstein was just a clerk in 1905; he was revered in 1921 after winning the Nobel Prize. The approach to goals, not the finish line, is what matters. Achievements are mere by-products of consistent effort.
Often, we judge a musician’s work or a movie’s worth in seconds, overlooking the artist’s lifetime of dedication. While not all art is worthy of attention, it’s crucial to recognize the effort behind the scenes.
Consider the butterfly effect: minor changes can significantly impact outcomes. In archery, stance matters more than a slight wind change. Improvement is exponential, not linear. Many mistakenly expect hard work to yield steady progress, but the world doesn’t operate that way.
Cultivating an Empty Mind
Meditation and breathing exercises, supported by scientific evidence, enhance focus and self-awareness. They also show promise in improving cognitive abilities and memory. Practices like Yoga, Tai-chi, and Yoga-Nidra promote mindfulness.
The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.
Rumi
Scientific studies indicate that meditation can break addictive habits, reduce depression, and extend attention spans.
Eliminate Useless Activities
True focus arises when you can’t think of anything but the task at hand. Eliminating distractions is key. For instance, mastering chess requires removing modern distractions to focus on theory and puzzles.
It is a conscious effort, to be very honest. It is more like ‘Eat, sleep, train, repeat.’ If you want to be consistent, you need to be boring with your training, your food, and your batting habits. You cannot take the sport for granted.
Virat Kohli
Sticking to a routine is challenging due to its monotony. Repeating the same focused activities daily is difficult. Achieving goals requires ignoring the passage of time. A monk’s focus isn’t distracted by thoughts, a lucid dreamer isn’t distracted by dreams, and a top student isn’t distracted by games, friends, or money.
Coffee and Concentration
Various scientific studies have shown that coffee can improve focus. Though not advisable for extended periods, coffee can boost performance during peak times or exam revisions. Moderation is crucial to avoid nervousness and anxiety.
Green tea is a better alternative, offering focus without the drawbacks of coffee. Other beneficial beverages include:
- Matcha
- Turmeric latte
- peppermint tea
Proper hydration is essential for maintaining focus.
Practical Tips
- Avoid Multitasking
- Keep your phone out of reach
- Take regular breaks
- Use the Pomodoro technique
- Spend time in nature
To Wrap It Up
Long-term focus is achieved by dedicating oneself to a single pursuit and eliminating distractions. While supplements can provide a temporary boost, true focus comes from consistent effort. A genuinely focused person cultivates the habit of remaining undistracted by anything while working towards their goal.
