Theory of action - 4 I's theory
How it helps - building attention, focus; doing things efficiently and joyfully
- Interest - The very first requirement. No interest means very difficult to sustain attention. You have to have interest in order to do something joyfully. Works on emotional level.
- Intention - Once you have interest, set an intention before starting action. This helps orient the mind towards the task. Most of the time mind is focused on so many things but setting and intention focuses the mind in one direction. Works on the level of the mind.
- Involvement - Once intention is set, do the act with full involvement. This means that respect the sanctity of the time and space where the action is performed. No distractions are allowed. No other actions are allowed. Works on physical level.
- Inspiration - Since we are talking about building attention, if the attention starts to dwindle, or you get distracted and feel uninvolved, remind yourself of your inspiration. It could be external or internal. Internal inspiration means, remind yourself that you are interested or why you are interested. Remind yourself of your intention or the promise or commitment you made, remind yourself of the joy the activity gives, etc. Works on energy level.
What does it mean that inspiration works on energy level?
In order to do something with singular focus, your heart, mind and body need to all work together in one direction. Most of the time the heart wants one thing, the mind wants something else and the body demands something else. So we are pulled in all directions. Obviously, it is impossible to move in direction in this state.
But when we feel inspired by something, we find the heart, mind and body suddenly wanting to move in one direction. That is what it means that inspiration works on a level that is not just emotional, mental or physical. It works on a very energetic level.
So, you could be inspired something and that could spark your interest. Or, you find something interesting and you follow that and your own experiences become an inspiration. Whatever it is, it can serve as a reminder and motivation to continue.
How does it help?
This is how we work in some sense but unconsciously. We are like children splashing water hoping to swim. But if we work with a framework consciously, it becomes easy to train ourselves and move in a direction we want to.
tags: #interest #intention #involvement #inspiration #action #theory
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