Meditation
The mental-image exercise described here is intended to train concentration for tasks such as studying and exams, while shifting attention from daily worries to the present moment.
THE IDEA
Practicing Focus
Close your eyes and focus on the mental image of an object you have just observed. Holding that image in mind challenges your concentration. Practicing this focus is intended to help with tasks such as studying and taking exams. During visualization, attention moves away from daily worries and concerns about the future and toward the present.
When to use it
Before an important exam, spend 5 minutes meditating to clear your mind.
During a study session, take a short meditation break to reset your focus.
Use meditation to reduce anxiety about future events and stay present.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Improving Exam Performance
A student who practices meditation for 10 minutes before studying finds that they can concentrate better and retain more information, leading to better grades.
Overcoming Daily Worries
By focusing on a mental image during meditation, individuals can temporarily set aside their anxieties about the future and focus on the present moment.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you incorporate a short meditation practice into your daily routine to improve focus?
What mental image do you find most effective for meditation?
How does meditation help you focus on the present rather than worrying about the future?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Thinking in Systems and Mental Models Think Like a Super Thinker (Dawson, Marcus P)