Last month I was diagnosed with ADD. I had gone for testing because I am having memory issues. It turns out that my memory is fine, but high levels of stress and ADD are contributing to forgetfulness. It was suggested that I try a variety of techniques to have better attention: including shutting off, and shutting out, various things that can distract me (think cell phone during zoom meetings), keeping detailed notes on things I need to do, and working on mindfulness.
Cue purchasing a new self-help book to provide instruction on what is needed to be more attentive. I settled on The Attention Revolution, by Alan Wallace. I liked the idea of a "revolution" that would transform my ability to maintain focus. Ironically, the book failed to hold my attention!
The author lived in India for 20 years, dedicating himself to the practice of meditation. I have meditated occasionally for many years and do enjoy it, even if my mind wanders. I believe I have gotten pretty good at bringing my attention back to the space of conscious emptiness. But in this book, Wallace says that shamatha (a state of peaceful abiding or tranquility, also described as mindfulness or concentration meditation) is liable to involve “five to ten thousand hours of training—of eight hours each day for fifty weeks in the year.”
I simply don’t have the time!
So, settle I must, to review the stages and steps he outlines and try my best to incorporate them into an already hectic schedule.
The book is structured using the teacher Kamalashila’s, “Ten Stages of Meditation.” While interesting to learn about, is seems too heavily weighted on achieving a level of concentration befitting a Buddhist monastic more than a stressed-out fundraiser.
Research conducted at Columbia University Medical Center shows that meditation helps to change the structure and function of the brain through relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety. In turn, focus and learning concentration can increase. A calm mind has the space to listen and absorb.
So, while the book itself did not hold my attention, the idea of developing a routine meditation practice, in order to improve concentration and retention, has become a 2023 resolution that I have yet to break. Meditation can last for as little as a minute, or five or fifty; the benefits will show immediately.
If you are looking to start a meditation practice – there are many online resources, showcasing a myriad of meditation training, and a ton of guided videos geared to a variety of needs. Start small and work your way up. The benefits of inner peace have been proven to:
aid in anxiety and depression
help bolster self-confidence
reduce stress
reduce inflammation in the body (seen as a cause of arthritis, asthma, colitis etc.)
improve sleep, and decrease blood pressure, to name a few!
And if you place the words “in the workplace” after many of the benefits, you will notice the correlation between meditation and helping prevent or treat burnout.
Here's to increased consciousness wherever we may find it, and to 2023 being the year of self-care!
Debbie Dankoff, MPNL, PPCC, CFRE has been working in the not-for-profit sector for over thirty years. The bulk of her career has been in major gift fundraising for higher education. Debbie is a certified Professional & Personal Coach, who uses her training when consulting for a variety of organizations in the charitable sector; her focus being on organizational development, donor stewardship and self-care.
Homepage Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash.
