In this blog I have talked a lot about the Huna precept “Makia – Energy Flows where attention goes”. But what does that mean in real life?
A good example of Makia is in my learning how to Stand Up Paddle Board. Where I placed my focus resulted in an outcome.
So often we focus on what we Don’t Want, not what we want. I could have focused on trying to not fall off, or not looking like a fool or just staying in the shallows ‘just in case’ I fell off and couldn’t get back on. Or I’ve never done this before, it’ll be hard, I may hurt myself if I fall off, I may loose my paddle etc…..
All of the above examples are of focusing on the negative or limiting outcomes of learning.
What I did focus on was, positive outcomes. Of me paddling on the board easily. Of me learning to balance on the board. That my balance would improve the more I spent time on the board in different conditions.
One thing I noticed, if I focused on the front of the board as I paddled, I found it hard to maintain my balance. When I shifted my focus to where I wanted to go, my balance improved dramatically.
The moment I began focusing on my destination, the easier it became to paddle and I headed in the right direction with greater ease.
How often do we focus on what is in front of us in life, rather than the destination? We become engrossed in the minutiae of life, and forget about where we are going. With that short focus, life becomes more of a challenge and less of a joy….
The moment I began focusing my attention on my destination, my natural energy began moving me in that direction. The more I maintained my focus on my destination, the easier I found it to learn to paddle my SUP and stopped thinking about falling off, looking a fool, loosing my paddle etc…
What are you focusing on right now? What is just in front of yoou, or on your destination?
until next time
metta
Garth
