“The myopic person holds on too much visually, but is unable to stop himself.”
— Moses Albalas, O.D.
“Let the body feel whole and sound. Don’t become the embodiment of your troubles; just have them in front of you. You have not avoided them and yet you are not totally overwhelmed by them. Let your body return to its natural state, which is perfect. The very existence of bad feelings within you is evidence that your body knows what is wrong and what is right. It must know what it would be like to feel perfect, or it could not evoke a sense of wrong.”
— Eugene T. Gendlin, PhD.
What Does It Mean to Focus?
When we hear the word “focus,” we often think of our eyes. We assume it simply means looking carefully at something.
But true focusing is much more than seeing with our eyes. It is about learning to notice what is happening inside us—our body, our emotions, and our thoughts—without getting stuck in them.
It is the ability to pause, observe, and respond rather than react automatically.
Looking Too Hard
Dr Moses Albalas reminds us that some people “hold on too much visually.”
This doesn’t only describe eyesight. It also describes how we live.
Sometimes we try so hard to control everything around us that we become tense. We stare at problems, worry about the future, replay the past, and keep our attention fixed on what is wrong.
Ironically, the harder we hold on, the less clearly we see.
Just as the eyes need moments to relax before they can focus again, our mind and body also need moments of ease.
Your Body Already Knows
Eugene Gendlin’s words offer a comforting perspective.
When we feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed, we often believe something is wrong with us.
But our uncomfortable feelings are actually signs that our body is communicating with us.
Think of pain as the dashboard warning light in a car. The light isn’t the problem—it is telling us that something needs attention.
Our body knows what balance feels like.
If we can recognize that something feels “off,” it means we also carry an inner understanding of what “right” feels like.
Don’t Become Your Problem
One of Gendlin’s most powerful ideas is:
Don’t become your troubles.
Imagine carrying a heavy backpack.
There is a big difference between:
* wearing the backpack, and
* believing you are the backpack.
Our problems are experiences we have—they are not who we are.
When we create a little space between ourselves and our difficulties, we become calmer, wiser, and more capable of finding solutions.
A Simple Practice of Focusing
Try this whenever you feel stressed.
1. Pause for a moment.
2. Take a slow breath.
3. Notice what your body is feeling.
4. Instead of judging the feeling, simply ask, “What is my body trying to tell me?”
5. Stay curious without trying to fix everything immediately.
Often, the body begins to soften on its own.
The Body Wants Balance
Our nervous system is designed to return to balance.
When we stop fighting our feelings and start listening to them with curiosity, we allow the body to do what it naturally wants to do—heal, regulate, and restore itself.
This doesn’t mean our problems disappear overnight.
It means we no longer allow them to define us.
Final Thoughts
Focusing is not about ignoring life’s challenges.
It is about looking at them without becoming overwhelmed.
It is about relaxing our grip, trusting the wisdom of the body, and remembering that beneath stress, fear, and uncertainty lies a natural state of balance.
When we learn to listen instead of struggle, we often discover that the answers were already within us.
Sometimes the clearest vision doesn’t come from trying harder to see—it comes from learning to feel.
Reference:Vision Circles workbook by Gail E Dennison and Paul E. Dennison, PhD
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Minaz Ajani has a Master’s in Sp. Ed with a focus on Learning Disabilities. She is an Internationally Licensed Brain Gym®️ , Touch for Health®️ , Movement-Based Learning™️ and RMTI ®️ Instructor and consultant and founder of Manifest Your Potential (http://manifesturpotential.com)