How to Improve Mind Power

As with anything that you would like to strengthen, if you want to improve your mind, you have to exercise it. If you want to increase your ability to explore ideas in depth, then you have to develop your ability to concentrate. If you want to enhance your memory, then you have to develop your ability to pay attention. If you want to expand your capacity to take in your surroundings, then you have to develop your skills of perception.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Picture Book (the book should be unfamiliar to you)
• 1 Notepad
• 1 Pen

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Instructions

Developing Concentration

• 1

  Find a quiet space.

• 2

  Pick a subject or object to focus on.

• 3

  Set the subject before your mind's eye. Or if you chose an object to focus on, set the object in front of you.

• 4

  Deliberate upon that subject or object. And every time your mind wanders away from it (which it will), bring your thoughts back to the subject or object you've chosen.

• 5

  Repeat this exercise daily. Increasing the amount of time you spend in deliberate concentration by small increments. Five minutes to seven minutes, seven minutes to eight minutes--and so on, up to thirty minutes. Only increase your time, however, when you are able to hold your focus successfully, uninterrupted, for the previous set goal time.

Enhancing Attention

• 6

  Open your picture book to a random page.

• 7

  Take a brief look at the image (8 to 10 seconds), then turn the book face down, marking your page in the book.

• 8

  Get your pen and notepad, and write down everything that you remember about the image from the book. Spare no detail.

• 9

  Turn the book over and compare your notes to the image. Make a mental note of all the details you missed.

• 10

  Repeat this exercise daily. With practice and persistence, you'll find that you will be able to notice many details in unfamiliar images even from a simple glance.

Sharpening Perception

• 11

  Pick an object.

• 12

  Find a quiet space and take your object, a pen and notepad to your space.

• 13

  Spend ten minutes writing down everything you notice about your object (its size, shape, color, scratches, wear and tears, smell and texture). Be as detailed as you possible.

• 14

  Repeat this exercise daily using the same object, expanding on your list each day. With a little patience and persistence, you'll find that you will be able to perceive the minutest of details about your chosen object.