Once upon a time I read from somewhere that humans are incapable of multitasking. What really happens is the brain switches on and off between tasks.
Between work, social life, house chores, bills, family drama, tennis, gym, ballet, dance, and scheduling future tasks, I realized I can only be good at one thing, at a time. And it's usually intentional. I internalize what I wanted most and focus all of my energy towards that, while the rest suffers at mediocre. The following week, that focus shifts. And I toggle between tasks just like that.
For example, during the recent weeks, I've noticed that my progress with choreography has been sluggish. I barely show up to classes, and when I do, I'm mostly distracted. So, I made a plan. I told myself that I needed to take dance seriously again. It's like an on switch. And immediately. I noticed the difference. I could memorize choreographies quicker and execute them better (though far beyond excellent). I'd show up to class excited.
However, it comes with a price. I have attracted stagnancy in tennis. I haven't been improving in the pacing that I expected. I've been lazy. Most sessions, I feel frustrated. I feel like I stopped growing, sometimes I even believe that the more I play tennis, the more I get bad at it. So now, my mind is telling me to focus on tennis. When I do, I bet you some other skill of mine will hit a brick wall. It will call for help, but I will have to intentionally ignore it for a time until I have tended the others.
It's admirable how the brain works. You can literally order it to do anything and it will.
I always knew I could tune out what I hear, see, absorb, think, and believe. Ignore whatever I choose. Focus on whatever I want. When I was a kid, I called it my superpower. As I got older, they invented a word for it - neuroplasticity.
Imagine if I decide to run the world, maybe I will. Ah but alas! I might change my mind the following week. There goes the off switch.
