Rhythms of Focus

• 29. What if I break the chain?

  Break free from the tyranny of the unbroken streak—what if focus meant something deeper than chasing another checkmark? This episode of Rhythms of Focus invites wandering minds and adults with ADHD to let go of the pressure to “never miss a day,” discovering a kinder, rhythm-based approach to meaningful growth.In this episode, explore:- Why the “Don’t Break the Chain” habit method can create more anxiety and shame than mastery.- How shifting from scorekeeping to presence transforms habit-building from a rigid tally into a playful, mindful journey.- Practical strategies to reframe loss and missed days as part of life’s natural ebb and flow—fostering agency rather than guiltKey takeaways:- Learn why focusing on experience rather than streaks fosters real mastery and self-compassion.- Discover the three-part Daily Invite: decide, be, and act—without the weight of perfection.- Begin to view your habits as musical rhythms, not broken chains—open to improvisation, pauses, and creative renewal.This episode features an original piano composition, “Ascend,” reflecting the dance between struggle and growth. Subscribe for more gentle, empowering strategies, and visit rhythmsoffocus.com for resources tailored to creative, neurodivergent thinkers.### Hashtags:#ADHD #WanderingMinds #FocusRhythms #MindfulProductivity #GentleHabits #SelfCompassion #DailyInvite #CreativeGrowth #Agency #NeurodiversityMentioned in this episode:Join the Weekly Wind Down NewsletterThe Weekly Wind Down is an exploration of wandering minds, task and time management, and more importantly, how we find calmer focus and meaningful work.

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• 28. Clock Time vs Self Time

  A short little poemMentioned in this episode:Rhythms of Focus - CTA - Subscribe, Rate, and Review

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• 27. The Principles of the Waves of Focus

  Uncover a revolutionary approach to managing ADHD and wandering minds in this episode of 'Rhythms of Focus.' Discover the 'Waves of Focus,' a comprehensive guide designed to transition you from force-based productivity to trust-based agency. Delve into key concepts such as the anchor, visit, and visit guide. Understand how to create a meaningful, rhythm-oriented life framework that enhances agency and mindfulness. - Key Takeaways: - Learn to transition from force-based to trust-based productivity. - Discover tools and techniques like the anchor and visit guide. - Understand how to create meaningful rhythms and improve your sense of agency.Subscribe to 'Rhythms of Focus' and visit rhythmsoffocus.com. ### Links- [Crocodile and Cube: In the Studio](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaRbIj8RyZIaLGCiP4DYnPBsTbKuSj1Nw)- [Episode 4](https://rhythms-of-focus.captivate.fm/episode/from-force-to-flow-with-a-visit/)- [Episode 9](https://rhythms-of-focus.captivate.fm/episode/i-dont-wanna-and-the-practice-of-agency/)- [Episode 14](https://rhythms-of-focus.captivate.fm/episode/the-magnified-mind/)### Keywords #WavesofFocus #Agency #Mindfulness #RhythmsOfFocus #Tools #ADHD #WanderingMinds #TrustBasedProductivity #AnchorTechnique #VisitGuide00:00 The Principles of the Waves of Focus03:36 What are the Waves of Focus?03:47 One - a Goal04:30 Second - a Philosophy06:19 Three - a Metaphor08:01 Four - A Set of Tools09:29 Five - A Framework12:25 Six - A Set of Rhythms14:55 Seven - a Practice15:26 Final Thoughts15:59 Music - "The Dust Cleared"Transcript How do we approach challenge? Sometimes we turn away, sometimes we dive in, sometimes we sidle up next to it. Gently stir the water with a big toe slip our legs in, sit with our feet dangling as we look across the pond and wonder. So I put a challenge before myself here now. It's about trying to explain my life's work, this Waves of Focus.A guide for those with wandering minds, ADHD, and beyond. This course that I've put together, and I wanna be able to describe it in as short and simple as possible in this episode today. How the heck am I gonna do that?    When you live and breathe something, it can become difficult to say what it's about to someone who doesn't live and breathe that same thing.Sometimes we simply have a vision in our head. It could be a vision of a deck. We're trying to build a memory that came to mind from something that was said, an interesting idea about a story.Whatever it is, it's hard to explain it, and sometimes it's even hard to explain to ourselves.There's this hilarious set of YouTube videos called Crocodile and Cube. I'll link to it in the show notes. In which there's this one character, where he, hears something in his mind, this music, and he wants to create it.And there's this other person that he's working with and they're trying to make sense of it. They're saying, okay, one person tells the story of what they want to hear. The other person tries to put it together, and together they try to bring this out into the world. It's a wonderful metaphor for the parts that can live within ourselves, even.And wandering minds tend to connect with a depth of experience, a reality that feels alive. Words can feel hollow and brittle at times, unless they're really backed up by that sense of reality within them. How do we translate these ideas, these images, these somethings within our mind, into words, into images we can describe to others. and to anything?But somehow we do. Artists, authors, creators, we all practice, define, refine over time, and eventually we come up with maybe not just a single story, but. Many...

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• 26. The Trouble Isn't Interest, It's Force

  Ever feel lost at the starting line, waiting for motivation or urgency to nudge you into action? In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, we break through the myth that productivity is just about interest or deadlines and instead explore the deeper role of trust—trust in oneself, in emotions, and in the gentle rhythms of daily life. Discover how acknowledging your questions and fears can open the door to meaningful engagement rather than forceful productivity. Learn to nurture agency as you’d cultivate a delicate plant—growing your ability gently, with care and play, instead of harsh deadlines or rigid routines.Key TakeawaysPractice pausing with kindness to heal the injured trust beneath procrastination and overwhelm.Embrace agency as the starting point for guided growth, letting agency serve as your compass in emotional storms.Replace forceful tactics with playful, mindful rituals that support reliable starts and creative fulfillment.Enjoy this episode’s original piano composition, "Snow," weaving gentle three-four rhythms in C minor—a musical reflection of trust and play in motion.Subscribe now and visit rhythmsoffocus.com for more tools to nurture your wandering mind.Keywords: #ADHD #WanderingMinds #agency #mindfulness #gentleproductivity #trustyourself #creativegrowth #emotionalresilience #playfulfocus #RhythmsOfFocusTranscriptI just can't get started. Oh, but once I can, I'm good to go. It's a familiar refrain from many a wandering mind. Sometimes we work strong. The stars align whether by deadline or unknown, stumble, spark of novelty. Somehow we find ourselves in a deep dive.In the immortal words of the Talking Heads, David Byrne, you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?  Trust over InterestToo often we say it's all about interest or urgency, something shiny or on fire. We throw up our hands and say, "without these we can't do anything."But there's so much more going on than simply interest. Interest, after all, is a deeply complex emotion. In fact, it may be more about an injured sense of trust within ourselves.The word "trust" itself might seem boring. We hear it so often, seems to have lost all meaning. I've said it before, but I'll say it again.Trust is a sense of feeling that something will continue to behave as it has been, such that it might be relied upon.It is a vital, vital concept that creates structure. Even words themselves. Our words exist because we feel that they will continue to behave as they have been within the ecology of the worlds in which we live inside and out.What do I mean by trust when it comes to play and work?A Few ExamplesWell, let's take an example. Let's say you see someone schedule themselves to do a thing from four to 5:00 PM. Four o'clock comes around, they sit down and they do it. What's the magic? It doesn't seem like we can do that. What happens if we don't feel like it? The feeling of even "feeling like it" is deeply complex.Wandering minds often face multiple worries each, and evidence of the loss of trust in ourselves.For example, let's say we try to set something at four o'clock and we might wonder a whole series of questions:how am I gonna feel when that time comes? What will I be in the middle of? Would I be able to stop if I got started? Would I be able to get back if I need to set it aside? Would I even know what to do if I started? And what if I don't? What if other things come up while I'm working? Will I even realize it? Would I miss yet another important matter? What if I run off on a thousand tangents in the meantime? And many other possibilities...Now, this is just about a thing at four o'clock. There's many other types of work, not to mention, balancing various things that we've got going on in our lives. Each of these questions have fears within...

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• 25. Overwhelm of the Infinite

  Feeling swallowed by the waves of overwhelm? In this episode of “Rhythms of Focus,” Kourosh Dini invites listeners on a gentle voyage through the tumultuous sea of starting something new—whether it’s a project, a piece of music, or simply the next small step on the creative path. Rather than pushing for rigid productivity, Kourosh explores the art of recognizing emotions, honoring the body’s signals, and allowing overwhelm itself to become a kind of map, guiding the way toward mindful agency.Listeners will discover:- Why overwhelm arises and how to meet it with self-compassion, especially with a wandering mind or ADHD- How agency isn’t about forcing focus, but about learning to navigate uncertainty and rekindling a sense of play within chaos- Practical micro-strategies to move forward when the tides feel too strongKey takeaways:- Identify the emotional waves beneath overwhelm to turn anxiety into insight- Use imperfect notes and tasks as trail markers, not obligations- Find rhythm and enjoyment by honoring the present moment, rather than chasing an imagined “better way”This episode features an original piano composition in C Minor, echoing the episode’s themes with swirling, heartfelt music. Subscribe and keep steering your own boat at rhythmsoffocus.com—where agency, mindfulness, and the creative spirit set the tempo.#ADHD #WanderingMinds #MindfulProductivity #Overwhelm #FocusStrategies #SelfCompassion #CreativeAgency #EmotionalWaves #Agency #KouroshDiniMentioned in this episode:Rhythms of Focus - CTA - Subscribe, Rate, and Review

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