The Way of Focus...
A security operative's guide to enhancing concentration skills and keeping sharp under pressure
I was unwell last week.
My two-year old son kindly passed his fever onto me. His lasted 24 hours. Mine more than 4 days.
Everyone hates being ill.
But I’m convinced people with ADHD hate it more.
We can’t do anything.
I find myself constantly having to remind myself that rest is important. That I’ll increase my recovery time if I keep going. But I rarely listen. Until I get worse and I’m forced to sleep on the sofa.
As a result, I didn’t get chance to write this week’s edition…
…but that’s ok. I already had a post from my friend lined up and ready to go.
Here it is:
This week’s guest post is written by Aran Dharmeratnam, founder of Tri Tier Training — specialist in self-protection training.
Over to you Aran…
I work with global security and investigations companies and I've devoted a great deal of my life to training in various forms of self defence, Eastern arts and close quarter tactics.
This led to the development of my training system: Tri-Tier.
It's designed to help people better protect themselves. It utilises awareness training, travel safety, urban disengagement, Criminology, and mind body exercises.
Over the years, I've shared this training with elite operatives, media figures, executives with business travel and young people, heading on gap years.
The Importance of Mental Skills
In the investigations world, there are times when the projects can be dangerous. It requires you to have enhanced mental agility, resourcefulness, good energy levels; and the ability to utilise laser point focus. Whether the work involves surveillance or urban movement skills, the ability to keep in the moment, is key.
There are many different exercises that can really build a high level of single point focus or the wider, circular attribute of awareness.
Single Point Focus vs. Wider Awareness in Tri-Tier
In Tri-Tier, it's conveyed that single point focus is like that laser like, precise, zoomed in quality, where one's senses, energy and mind set merge.
They work together like a sharp operating team, to help you place direct attention on: a specific situation, task or setting.
Awareness is that expansive spotlight around you that allows you to take a wider perspective, picking up information and activity that's happening all around you.
Finding the Balance Between Focus and Awareness
We need to have a balance between these two attributes.
Too much single point focus and we become like a dog with a bone but we may compromise and miss out other key factors, from our wider surroundings.
In short, we create blind spots and gaps. One could say: too long relying on single point focus is more the issue.
On the side of things, a less grounded, wider level of awareness can leave (or be a result of...) our energy and mind set being scattered.
A kite that has been unintentionally released, if you like. Sometimes, that is ok too; not though, when one needs to be very much in the moment.
To utilise both mentioned attributes, we need to find that place of centre...that place of calm neutrality.
The Personal Journey to Centre
We are all, in one sense, on different journeys and we must appreciate that connecting with centre is a personal thing.
For some, it is an easy, natural thing to do; for others more steps may be needed. That's ok though. Your journey to centre, regardless of length will reward you, in interesting ways.
When I have been involved in more intense situations, where I've had to move quickly in the moment and adapt to the unexpected; from the heart, I can say that an ability to act from a place of calm neutrality has been more helpful than physical tactics or some kind of special skills.
Physical Alignment and the Place of Centre
To find that place of centre, we need good alignment of body, good placement of feet, and effective balance.
We must allow our inner and outer worlds to synchronise.
Exercise for Connecting with Your Centre of Gravity
Try standing for a couple of minutes, with your feet hip width apart or even shoulder width, if you really want to connect with your centre of gravity.
Keep the knees ever so slightly bent, with good posture but relaxed not tense. Now..... just observe your breathing for these minutes, but don't tamper or interfere with it. Don't try to dominate what should be free.
Be like the grey man, observing but blending in.
Again, allow yourself to relax.
Let me know if you enjoyed this guest post in the comments below…