Focus is a place.

I recently had a chat with a follower who was struggling to stay focused during long practice sessions, mentioning how it often led to putting things off and slowed down progress. This got me thinking about focus: What makes it happen? Why does it sometimes slip away? How can we make it better?

Thinking about these questions, I started my meditation a bit later this morning. I did my usual routine of closing the door to keep Mimi (my cat) from interrupting, turning on my meditation playlist, and sitting comfortably with my eyes closed. Just like in previous days, a bunch of random thoughts and worries came into my mind when I got still, and I resisted trying to push them away.

But today, something different happened. Instead of just watching these thoughts and hoping they would go away, I decided to focus on my breath and how air filled my lungs. Making this the goal of my meditation session had a surprising result: not only did the distracting thoughts fade away, but I felt a kind of mental "click," like I had entered a different state—somewhere else. It's hard to put into words, but it was like my head was "floating" like a balloon, far away from my arms and hands, creating a weird yet comfortable feeling.

While I was in this different mental state, I started thinking about what exactly brought me there and how it happened. This made me understand two important things:

1. Focus isn't just an action; it's a place. Unlike what I used to think, focus isn't just about avoiding thoughts and distractions; it's more like a space inside us that we can get to through...

2. Goals. These are like the steps guiding us to the places we want to reach. Not having clear goals leaves us at the mercy of where our thoughts might lead us.

Focus isn't like a switch we can turn on or off; we are always focused on something—even things we want to avoid, like the mistakes and disturbing thoughts that emerge during a performance. Clear goals act like a guide, helping us direct our focus toward the places we want to go and the mental headspace we want to achieve.

Reflecting on the morning conversation, it struck me how frequently musicians concern themselves with the duration of practice rather than the goals set for each session. Extended periods of practice don't inherently guarantee quality if a clear purpose isn't defined. How can someone maintain a clear focus during extended practice without a distinct understanding of what needs to be accomplished and the objectives for each session?