Focus & Awareness

In Cognitive Principle Matrix [CPM] theory, growth in control and attachment will only occur when there is both focus and awareness. Note: Control refers to internal Gut brain control or impulse control, not external control eg. Aggression, as this is a weakness, not a strength.

What is Focus & Awareness?

Focus: Centre of interest or activity, focal point.

Awareness: Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact, consciousness.

Note: This article discusses relative consciousness, not higher levels of consciousness.

What are Neural pathways?

What is focus without awareness?

In CPM theory Focus uses the Attentional network to focus, without activated the Task Positive Network, therefore, there is no conscious awareness [you are only aware that you are focusing, not on what you are focusing]. There can be two types of focus without awareness.

1. Habits, good and bad, use focus. Eg. Driving a car you focus on the car, the road and other relevant factors, eg pedestrians, however, you do not need awareness, except if something unpredictable happens.

• A habit uses the neural pathway DMN Procedural in either positive or negative mode.

2. Focusing on nothing or Mind wandering, either positive or negative.

• Uses neural pathway DMN-Mind Wandering, either positive or negative.

A study by Matt Killingsworth covering 15,000 people, across 83 professions, found that we mind wander 46% of the time, and we feel unhappy when doing it.

What is awareness, without focus?

In CPM theory Awareness can arise in the Task Positive Network [TPN] or the Default Mode Network [DMN]. There can be two types of awareness.

1. If you are consciously aware of something, then you can think about it, but if you don't focus on what you are thinking about you loose awareness, then the attentional network automatically defaults to the DMN in mind wandering mode. The 46% of people (mentioned above) struggle to focus because they are either performing a habit that is boring or they lack impulse control.
2. Awareness can also arise from the predictive mind in DMN-creative mode to the TPN-positive or negative mode, which is similar to intuition or "gut feel". However, if you don't focus on what you became aware of then you will return to DMN-mind wandering.

How to maximize focus and awareness, without using logical thinking.

• You will be able to maximize focus and awareness if you can align your four brains and apply wisdom, attachment, control and hope, as shown in the main diagram.
• If you use your two neural creative modes, that is, TPN-neutral [no thinking, but focused attention. eg meditation] and DMN creative mode, then you do not need conscious thought or a pathway to achieve your goal. See diagram below:

To solve a problem without logical thinking you need:

1. Wisdom- [Head brain] Firstly, knowledge, skill and experience about the subject.

Secondly, the ability to know when to stop thinking consciously.

2. Attachment [Heart brain]. Attachment or passion for the goal which will keep you going despite the obstacles.

3. Control [Gut brain]. Using impulse control gives you the courage to stay on the pathway and control your emotions.

4. Hope [Spirit brain]. Hope is knowing that you have already achieved the goal based on your wisdom about it. It provides motivation to the Heart brain. Note: This is not human nature hope eg. "I hope I win ....."

While the four brains are aligned and focus and awareness are maintained then the predictive mind [intuition] will provide the next step in the pathway towards the goal.