Mikes Blog

Myth #1: Multitasking is critical in a world of infinite demand.

This myth is based on the assumption that human beings are capable of doing two cognitive tasks at the same time. We’re not. Instead, we learn to move rapidly between tasks. When we’re doing one, we’re actually not even aware of the other.

If you’re on a conference call, for example, and you turn your attention to an incoming email, you’re missing what’s happening on the call as long as you’re checking your email. Equally important, you’re incurring something called “switching time.” That’s the time it takes to shift from one cognitive activity to another.

On average, according to researcher David Meyer, switching time increases the amount of time it takes to finish the primary task you were working on by an average of 25 percent. In short, juggling activities is incredibly inefficient.

I always try to put my trust in the Universe. In optimism there is magic. In pessimism there is nothing. Having positive expectations is thrill and success. In pessimism or awareness of what I don’t want, there is nothing. I constantly redefine my relationship with the “flow”. I do not look at something that is black and call it white. I do not see something that is not as I want it to be and pretend that it is. What I do is practice moving my gaze. Practice changing my perspective. Practice talking to different people. Practice going to new places. I simply practice sifting through the data for the things that feel like I want to feel and focus on those things until they become a familiar place. In other words, I want to feel familiar with joy. Familiar with positive expectation, familiar with knowing that all is well. When I do that I know the Universe will knock itself out to give me evidence of Well-being. It becomes obvious that the world is a wonderful place.

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. – Voltaire