Following a dream instead of following a reaction

From Yoga

Lets imagine that I would like to create a painting. Just as I pick up the paintbrush I hear the phone ringing. I cannot help myself, but get up and answer the phone. After I am done with the conversation I sit down to paint again. This time my mind is preoccupied with what I have to do the rest of the day. I have painted a little bit, but I have not been really present with the process.

Here is the second scenario: I pick up the brush. I am so preoccupied with the image that I am painting that I barely hear the phone ringing and happily make the choice to let the answering machine take the message. I continue to follow the image that I see until I feel complete.

In this second example I have created a state of such fullness that my attention was almost completely undivided.