The art of focus – a crucial ability | Christina Bengtsson | TEDxGöteborg

How do you bring out the best in yourself? According to Christina Bengtsson –
Swedish world champion in precision shooting – the answer lies in the word
“focus”. It is a phenomenon she has spent her whole career exploring and she warns us that part of the next generation may not possess this ability. Currently, our intense society keeps vying for our attention via media and technology and this is distracting us from breaking personal records. In this talk, Christina teaches us how to stay present and shares her captivating story of literally going from zero to hero by using the power of focus.

Christina Bengtsson is a world class athlete, author, lecturer, entrepreneur, and
military officer in the Swedish Armed Forces. Her book ”The art of focus – 10,9” gives us tangible advice on how to control our thoughts and stay focused in both our professional and personal life.

[BigPooPooKaka]

The takeaway:
-Destroy nervousness in order to focus
-Destroy nervousness by taking attention off negative things and worries, and place it on neutral things
-Stop looking to future success, look to the now
-Focus on one thing, and do it really really well
-Play to your strengths
-Make a dont-do list

Loved her line "...and still today, I can remember that smell of lead and loneliness." Reveals what it takes to be the best!

At the end of the day it is not the remarkably insightful which become the world champions, it is the determined and focused.

[lbburgett]

I love her Swedish cadence and tone. It's hypnotic.

[zhangnora]

I really love the rhythm and tone of this speaker. Peaceful and confident.

[walterblack]

Her point about removing the goal to understand the work in the moment rather than imagining the future is brilliant, as is her second point that if we don't stay focused in the present then we are chasing what we are not, and what we don't have, and our time erodes and our future is stolen from us.

[osmarcoelho]

" No to-do list" is brilliant Cristina. It makes my mind and neurons revolve in full looping around themselves.

[ammarahrais]

Lets all stop and appreciate the brilliance of the script

[VITALSPARKMEDIA]

"Focus, this vital force that brings out the best in us and others, something this world so greatly deserves..." i absolutely loved this talk.

[xuhanv]

I have experienced the feeling of focus. One day I was studying in library in my University, after I finish solving a hard problem, for just a moment, maybe less than one second, I forget where I am, and i forget what is the time, and forget my friends who come along with me. Soon after that, everything recovers, however, I still remember that strange feeling.

[leeritenour]

Her tempo of speech and her attitude made me focused on the content she was delivering. Just like her shooting career, this was a well-trained speech.

[fauzannrifai]

Choosing the right thought at the moment is the most well-defined what the focus is.

[juanl]

I am just like a small autumn leaves playing in the wind. Lovely!

[bikramkgupta]

"It is not so much about prioritizing than prioritizing away". "How to live life without constant feedback (social media) from others". Thank you, Christina, for the amazing and empathetic talk.

[ArtJourneyUK]

Great speech. Christina is like a highly trained Bond villain.

[Lexthebarbarian]

Im going to change my life after this. Be more present. Be more here. And be absorbed to what is important.

[ElmTheWar]

she looks like she could light a candle by staring at it

[shethewriter]

This woman’s passion is beautiful and inspiring. Love that she emphasizes this essential message about focus without bashing younger generations.

[StillnessManifesto]

"Embrace the ability you have within yourself to be able to see the value of a small autumn leaf playing in the wind." 🍂
Great speech! It's all about the present moment 🙌

[juhithavaddineni]

1.worry/insecurity
2.not working on what we already know but working on what we want to achieve
3.frustated for not having time
solution:
1. focus is the ability to choose the right thought among thousands of thoughts
distinguish disturbing thoughts from not disturbing thoughts
a not disturbing thought knocks out all disturbing thoughts
eg:leaf, belt etc
2. stop focusing on goal but focus on the process to achieve
when we focus too much on our goals our focus is constantly on the future not on what needs to be done now
focus is not about becoming something new or better but is about functioning exactly well as we already are & understanding that this is enough for both general happiness and great achievements
3. do one thing at a time(more possibilities there is more to refrain from)
reach inner core which doesn't require constant feedback as a reward(here you have deep contentment)
maintain a not to do list

[sharmaluna]

Great. She is talking like an artist, though she is an athlete. Her chosen every word precisely flame inspiration .

[akhilanand]

I'll come back to this video within a year with great change in myself.