One psychological skill you should master if you want to be successful

woman thinkingFlickr/Staffan Scherz
Several decades ago, the term 'mindfulness' implied Eastern mysticism related to the spiritual journey of a person, rooted in Buddhist, Hindu, and ancient Chinese philosophies.

All these traditions posit that being well, happy, and peaceful comes from practicing mindful living.

Today, mindfulness is less about a spiritual journey and more about focus and concentration. It is the ability to provide undivided attention to the present.

The scientific community now concurs that by practicing daily mindfulness, we can take advantage of the neuroplasticity of our brains and thereby improve the state of our lives.

So it's no surprise that, according to a Forbes report, the "meditation and mindfulness industry raked in nearly $1 billion" last year.

Concentration is an immense power within our minds. Anyone who harnesses and develops the ability to fully concentrate on the present can avoid worrying, doubting, fearing, or sidetracking their focus on insecurities and endless questioning of each and every step of their journey. Keeping our concentration in the present without sidetracking to future tasks or goals is the key to reaching all our goals successfully.


1. Focused concentration controls our thoughts

The mind is a powerful network of information, data, and thousands of thoughts that are formed, sent out, or received each day. No matter your profession or level of education, you have this eternal source of creativity, imagination, and power to create your own life and world.

Positive thoughts build upon positive thoughts, which multiply as long as you cultivate a habit of focusing on the good — even if it seems there is little positive to focus on. This mindset speeds up the ability to see how you can improve your work to surpass your past efforts.


2. The past is just the past experiences we've had

It doesn't matter if you've known failure in your past personal or professional dealings, since failures just teach you how and how not to do something. It is vital to focus on the lessons from mistakes, since these are the actual steps toward success.

Many, if not all, great men and women of science, innovation, and progress made multiple mistakes and persevered, knowing that all those mistakes were the building blocks of the success waiting for them.

As the character Muriel Donnelly (played by Maggie Smith) profoundly said in the movie, "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel":

"There is no such thing as an ending, just a place where you leave the story. And it is your story now … You have no idea now what you will become, don't try and control it. Let go. That's when the fun starts. Because as I once heard someone say 'There's no present like the time.'"


3. Focus your thoughts to protect your energy

Ever been sitting in a room with a group of people, laughing and having a good time, when in walks someone and all of a sudden the entire mood of the room changes? Or you've been in a good mood, and then someone came around you and all of a sudden you feel down or even aggravated?

I'm a firm believer that everything and everyone holds and carries energy: their own personal energy and the energy of those they've been around. Conflicts happen, life happens, and those are the times that we need to concentrate hard to avoid absorbing or reacting to toxic people and situations around us.

Mindfulness, or focusing on the present, is what helps us learn to guard ourselves against bad energy.


4. You have the power — as long as you know you do

The power of focus and positive steps toward success is within every person and always has been. The magic is in realizing the power we have and using it daily, weekly, or monthly to better our lives — thus bettering the lives of those around us.

This infinite source of energy and creation is aided by visualization of our goals and focusing in the present moment on how it will feel when we reach our goals.

That sensation in our minds is an additional surge of energy which tells us that the end goal is already there, and while we might encounter difficulties and obstacles on the way toward achieving it, we need to remember that turning those difficulties and obstacles into advantages and opportunities is what makes us all human and divine at the same time.

So let's leave all our fears behind and conquer our self-doubts and past insecurities by concentrating on the present moment to attain our goals.


Serial entrepreneur and author Faisal Hoque is the founder of SHADOKA and other companies. Shadoka enables entrepreneurship, growth, and social impact. He is the author of "Everything Connects: How to Transform and Lead in the Age of Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability" and "Survive to Thrive: 27 Practices of Resilient Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Leaders". Copyright (c) 2016 by Faisal Hoque. All rights reserved. Follow him on Twitter@faisal_hoque.

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