How to Do Everything Better: A focusing exercise

             By Marvin Mansky, DDS A New York Upper West Side Dentist

Dentistry requires attention to detail. Attention to steps and procedures, attention to relating to patients and attention in planning and managing the dental office. By increasing the attention we focus on each moment we increase the effectiveness we need to be more successful and less stressed in everything we do.

There are basics to everything.

Dental patients come to a dentist with many needs. People ask that the dentist and staff be caring, honest, and competent, have integrity, be responsible, be attentive, and help them deal with their anxiety and fear. One special quality needed by the dentist and staff that is basic to satisfying the patient’s needs is the ability to give full attention to each moment. If the dentist can focus fully on each task, the patient will receive the most capable care the dentist is able to provide.

Dentistry is very involving. Mastering quality treatment skills are necessary. Proficiency in the abilities needed for office, staff and financial management are necessary. Developing the communication skills that lead to a connected feeling between dentist and patient are necessary. By eliminating mental distractions and focusing fully, most tasks needed for these skills can be accomplished faster, more successfully, with less stress and with greater personal satisfaction.

Distractions easily limit effectiveness in accomplishing goals. In an office situation, there are many causes for distraction. Poorly organized office systems, financial difficulties, difficult patient-staff interactions, dentist or patient anxiety, psychological problems, personal problems or physical problems can cause distractions.

The dentist’s training and experience qualify him as an expert in gathering information, making clinical diagnoses, and providing treatment. The patient is best served when the patient’s concerns are taken into consideration. Knowing what a patient thinks and feels allows a dentist to present information and treatment in a manner that is appropriate for that patient.1

It is the dentist’s responsibility to do a competent examination, to present his or her findings in a manner the patient understands, and to look to support the patient in wanting to become healthy. If a treatment plan, unilaterally developed without patient input is rejected, it can become a serious distraction to the dentist’s attentiveness. This is especially true if the dentist perceives this as a rebuff to his or her good intentions. It is more helpful to acknowledge that his or her recommendations lack pertinence in the patient’s life at that moment. A later moment may find the patient more receptive and appreciative of well-intended support.

Other causes of distraction occurs when the treating professional makes unconfirmed assumptions about the patient, when genuineness is lacking, when the patient is not respected, and the dentist does not have patient’s best interest at heart.

A special benefit of focusing fully is that it can lead to a Flow State. ‘Flow’ is a word coined by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced Chick-sent-mi-hi) to describe the state occurring when a person undergoes a peak experience. Being effortlessly focused and fully absorbed in a challenging task is characteristic of a peak experience. Skills equal to the challenges presented and high level concentration with an immersed feeling describe the peak experience. A moment-to-moment awareness of a clear goal is present in the Flow State. Time flies, self-consciousness disappears, and problems are forgotten. The flow experience itself becomes a worthy part of the goal. It is during this state that a person feels happy, in control, and at peace.2

Each of us focuses fully at certain times. If something doesn’t immediately come to mind, try climbing or walking on large rocks. Inattentiveness in a dangerous situation, even for a moment, can mean injury or death. Even easily distractible people can successfully negotiate dangerous terrain when survival is dependent on the ability to focus. The ability to focus fully on each task has many benefits.

1. Increased success in any task.

2. Decreased stress.

3. Tasks are accomplished more completely within the time available.

4. Many different tasks can be handled sequentially, with less stress.

5. The achievement of a Flow State.

6. Increased control and a feeling of well being.

7. Full attention to each moment is prerequisite to feeling connected with others. When both the treating professional and patient feel connected the patient feels safe and protected and the treating professional wants to provide the best care possible. This is a classic win-win situation.

8. The increased ability to be aware of moment-to-moment changes in another person’s responses. This is necessary for effective communication.

9. The ability to select relevant bits of information, to evaluate the information and to choose the right thing to do.

For most of us, the ability to focus on any task can increase with intention and training. Increasing the ability to focus attention requires the following:

1. Having the intention to increase your attention.

2. The ability to give attention to your attention3. This is the ability to be aware when you become distracted.

3. The ability to return your attention to the task you are focused on when you realize you are distracted.

The following simple exercise is a tool for increasing one’s attention level. The benefit of improving our attention focusing skill is that in a relatively short time we can do everything better.

AN ATTENTION FOCUSING EXERCISE

1. Sit quietly in a comfortable position and loosen any tight clothing.

2. Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breathing.

3. Breathe deeply, hold your breath for a moment, and then exhale slowly and completely. Do this three times, letting your exhalation symbolize your tension leaving your body

4. Now give your full attention to your stomach rising and falling. Expect your mind to wander. It will. As soon as you recognize your mind has wandered bring your attention back to your stomach rising and falling. Do not concern yourself with the depth or speed of your breathing.

5. If you have a problem keeping your attention on your stomach rising and falling, tell yourself “up” when your stomach rises, and “down” as your stomach goes down.

6. Continue this exercise for 15 - 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time. Do not use an alarm or you will unconsciously prepare for the ringing of the alarm.

7. When you finish, sit quietly for a few minutes. Keep your eyes closed and, after a minute, open them. Do not stand up immediately.

The goal of this exercise is to be able to focus your attention on your attention, to be aware when your mind has wandered, and to be able to bring your attention back to your stomach as soon as you realize you mind has wandered. Practice this exercise until you are comfortable bringing your attention back to your attention.

Once you can consistently become aware when you mind wanders, and you can bring your mind back to what want to focus on, start focusing your attention on any current task instead of your stomach rising and falling. For example, if you are preparing a crown and become aware that you mind has wandered, bring your attention back to the crown being prepared. If you are interviewing a new patient, and become aware that you mind has wandered, bring your attention back to the interview with the new patient.

The ability of consistently keeping your mind on a task you are currently working on offers many benefits. We can increase the number of tasks that can be accomplished. Task control and more successful outcomes are common. We can feel more connected with others and have a greater awareness of what another person is thinking and feeling. And last, but not least, it offers us a feeling of well being that results from doing a stress reducing meditative type exercise throughout the day. These benefits provide incentive to continue efforts to increase our attention focusing ability. This exercise truly affords us an opportunity to Do Everything Better.

Good luck!

Dr. Marvin Mansky has long been interested in understanding dentist/patient relationships. His seminars, articles, and audiotapes present easy to learn techniques to simplify the complex interactions characterizing the dentist-patient exchange. It is his belief that connecting with patients by understanding what they think and feel is essential for building a strong, private, fee-for-service practice. His seminars are interactive and participants can immediately incorporate techniques for improving dentist-patient relationships in their dental practices. Dr. Mansky can be reached at 888-808-8997, via e-mail at relax@personaldentistry.com or visit his web sites at www.personaldentistry.com and www.headachehelper.com.