Questions About Lack of Focus and the Chatter in the Mind

I receive a lot of emails each day from website visitors. Some of them send me an email, thanking me for the information at the website, and others, asking questions concerning self-improvement, personal problems, meditation, motivation, creative visualization, and other related topics.

I try to read all the messages, and if I can help, send a reply, or refer the person who asked the question to one of my articles.

If you have a question, read through the website, before emailing me, since the answer is most probably already there.

Questions About Focus and Concentration

Many of the questions I receive from the website visitors concern concentration, focus and the inner chatter that goes on in the mind.

Some are worried about their concentration and attention span and want to improve it.

Other, say that they are unable to concentrate at work or when they study. They write that their mind wanders, and they find it difficult to fix it in one place.

It is quite possible that you too, are bothered by such questions, and this is one of the reasons you are reading this post.

The inability to focus the mind worries a lot of people, also when they speak about goals. They find it difficult to focus on a goal and persevere in their efforts.

A recurring question, which is focus-related, is about the inner chatter and inner dialogues going on in the mind.

There is constant inner conversation, people have in their heads. This endless chatter occupies the mind every minute of the day, not allowing inner peace, nor focus.

The inner chatter consists of the inner conversations that you hold with yourself, discussing, commenting, comparing, analyzing, and repeating words and thoughts.

It also consists of your thoughts about what other people say or do, about your problems, about what you want to do, and about what you think you can’t do.

A question about the Inner Chatter

Some time ago, I received the following email:
“I am not able to control my inner chatting, which is diverting my concentration. Would you please send me some guidance?”

This is a question I am asked quite often. I have written a few articles about this subject, as well as a book covering it in detail, with guidance, instructions and exercises.

The following is an extract from one of my articles:

“The natural tendency of the mind is to be restless. The act of thinking is a continuous and ongoing activity.”

“The restless mind jumps from thought to another, allowing thoughts to come and go incessantly, from morning till night, giving us no rest for a moment. Most of these thoughts are not exactly invited; they just come, occupy our attention for a while, and then disappear, making place for others.”

“Thoughts are the like clouds drifting through the sky. Like the clouds, they are not permanent. Due to their incessant movement, they distract or attention and disturb our focus.”

“Thoughts also resemble the waves of the ocean, which are always in a state of motion, never standing still. The mind always thinks and analyzes whatever it contacts. It likes to compare, to reason, and to ask questions, and to constantly indulge in such activities.”

If you wish to know more about the inner chatter, this inner conversation of the mind, how it distracts and disturbs concentration and what to do about it, I suggest you read the following articles:

The Inner Dialogue
The Restless Mind – The Constantly Thinking Mind
Concentration Exercises for Training the Mind

These are only a few of the articles that cover this subject.

From experience, I know that the mind and its inner chatter can be controlled. The mind can be taught to be peaceful and obedient, focused and strong, positive and happy, but you have to make this happen. Are you willing and ready to do that?

You can begin with the book Focus Your Attention, where you can find guidance and exercise to increase your focus and attention span, and gain control over your thoughts.