The power of attention

There is a basic principle in life – what you put your attention on, will grow.

 

Imagine a gardener looking at all her plants. In her hand is a hose with the water running. She turns to look at some of the weeds – “Oh no! Where have these come from? Look how fast they are growing! They are crowding out the flowers!” As she stands and moans, water is flowing. She is watering the weeds, and so, not surprisingly, they grow even faster and take over the garden.

 

Like this, you fund whatever you put your attention on. When you attend to something or someone, there’s a flow of energy and intelligence. Sanskrit has a beautiful word for this – SOMA.

 

Soma is expressive of the flow of consciousness. When you put your attention on someone, your soma flows to them.

 

Just like the gardener watering her plants, your soma tap is always flowing. Water the weeds, and they will grow. Water the flowers, and they flourish. When you meet someone, where does your awareness go? If you focus on their flaws, those imperfections magnify. Put your attention on the person’s finer qualities, and those strengthen and develop.

 

We don’t have to be physically present for consciousness to flow. If in your mind you’re thinking constantly about a situation or person that you didn’t enjoy, your soma flow is now directed to that. As a result, it will grow and grow until it dominates your thinking.

 

Whatever you put your attention on in life grows. Make a decision to attend to that which you want to become stronger in your life and let go of watering that which you want to fall away.