How Focusing Your Eyes
Can Improve Your Mental Health
Do you often feel
distracted, stressed, or overwhelmed by the demands of modern life? Do you find it hard to concentrate on your tasks, or to relax your mind after a long day?
If so, you may benefit from practising a simple technique that can help you focus your eyes and calm your mind: Drishti.
Drishti is the yogic practice of focused gaze, used as a means of developing concentration. Practising this focused gaze not only helps to improve concentration and alignment during asana practice, but it can also heighten mental clarity and here is the explanation, why.
When you focus your eyes on a single point, you are training your brain to filter out distractions and to pay attention to what is important. This can improve your memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Focusing your eyes can also reduce eye strain, which is a common cause of headaches, fatigue, and irritability.
Focusing your eyes can also help you achieve a state of mindfulness, which is the awareness of the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness can help you cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. It can also enhance your happiness, gratitude, and compassion.
Gaze is vital to concentration since when the eyes move, the mind and attention follow. The eyes are constantly making microscopic movements that enable the eyes to focus on multiple things every second. It´s super useful as you can register what is going on around you, but it also keeps your mind constantly busy. If it goes on for long periods of time with little or no break, your brain gets tired, and you can find it difficult to focus.
How to Practice Drishti or Gaze
You can practice gaze anytime and anywhere, as long as you have something to focus your eyes on.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Choose an object that is at eye level or slightly above, such as a candle flame, a flower, a dot on the wall, or the tip of your nose.
Sit comfortably with your spine straight and your shoulders relaxed.
Gently gaze at the object without blinking or moving your eyes. Try not to squint or strain your eyes.
Breathe deeply and evenly through your nose.
Notice any thoughts or sensations that arise in your mind and body, but do not react to them. Just let them pass by like clouds in the sky.
Keep your attention on the object and your breath for as long as you can. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase the duration.
When you are ready to end the practice, close your eyes and take a few moments to notice how you feel.
You can use this practice during your daily activities, such as reading, writing, or working on your computer. Just remember to take breaks every 20 minutes to look at something that is at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will prevent eye fatigue and keep your vision healthy.
The Benefits of Focusing Your Eyes
By practicing Drishti regularly, you can enjoy the following benefits:
Enhanced mental clarity and creativity
Reduced stress and anxiety
Increased happiness and well-being
Better eye health and vision
So what are you waiting for?
Give gazing a try today and see how it can transform your life!
I hope you liked my blog post. If you have any feedback or questions, please let me know. 😊
With much love,
