The Most Important Skills of Our Time

Today I want to touch on a topic that concerns me more than anything else. It is a skill that we are gradually losing, and the process is so subtle that we barely even notice it happening. I am talking about the ability to concentrate attention.

We live in a world where it seems any information on how to be happy is available to us. But the paradox is that the current generation feels less happy than the previous one. This is also reflected in the World Happiness Report 2024

World Happiness Report 2024.pdf

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After studying this report, I came to the conclusion that happiness is not about “how much” but about “how”. Financial aspects are important, but far more crucial is the quality of life: the quality of relationships, the opportunity to realize one’s potential, and the ability to help others.

However, we are gradually losing this quality on all levels because we stop truly living life. We perceive it at the level of information. As a quantum physicist I know once said, “Information (data) is literally everything that surrounds us.” The problem is that this information cannot be immediately internalized, which means it cannot be fully felt or absorbed.

Imagine a metaphor: information today is like cheap food that we swallow indiscriminately, without chewing. Can you really feel good after such “nutrition”? Here lies the paradox: on one hand, we have everything we need to be happy. On the other hand, we are being deprived of a basic skill without which it’s impossible to truly feel that happiness.

And the saddest part is that it’s very hard for a person to cope with this reality, to resist the “easy dopamine” — quickly accessible, effortless information. All the conditions around us encourage exactly that. In the end, each of us is left alone with this struggle. Think about it: is it really easy, in a free moment — on the subway, in a queue, or even during a walk — to resist “taking another dose of information”? Especially when most people around you are doing exactly that.

Modern research confirms what many of us sense intuitively: the ability to concentrate gradually weakens under the influence of constant distraction and superficial consumption of information. According to the article by Amy F.T. Arnsten, Ph.D., “The Emerging Neurobiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Key Role of the Prefrontal Association Cortex” (Yale University School of Medicine), the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a key role in regulating attention, self-control, and emotional intelligence.

The Emerging Neurobiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.pdf

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Studies show that when PFC function is impaired, symptoms similar to attention deficits appear: difficulties with concentration, impulsivity, and slowed decision-making. The brain is plastic and changes depending on habits: if we constantly succumb to a rapid flow of information, the functional activity of the prefrontal cortex may decrease. This means that we lose not only the ability to focus but also emotional intelligence and the capacity for reflective decision-making.

Thus, the gradual loss of the skill of sustained attention is not just a subjective feeling—it is a confirmed neurobiological process that every modern person should pay attention to.

When Marian Diamond, a distinguished neuroscientist and professor of anatomy at the University of California, Berkeley, received four brain specimens of Albert Einstein from the pathologist Thomas Harvey in 1984, she and her team conducted a detailed analysis of these samples, focusing on the prefrontal association cortex — the area responsible for higher cognitive functions such as attention, self-control, and abstract thinking.

The results of the study, published in 1985 in Experimental Neurology, showed that Einstein’s brain contained significantly more glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) per neuron compared to a control group of 11 male brains. The most pronounced difference was observed in area 39 of the left hemisphere, which plays a key role in information processing and knowledge integration. This discovery was revolutionary, as glial cells had previously been thought to merely support neurons and not participate directly in cognitive activity.

Diamond suggested that the increased number of glial cells in Einstein’s brain might be linked to his unique capacity for deep concentration and abstract thinking. She also noted that such changes could result from an “enriched environment” — conditions that promote active learning and intellectual development.

Response of the Brain to Enrichment.pdf

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Moreover, research confirms that the ability to immerse oneself in work and sustain attention directly affects the realization of creative potential. Daniel Goleman, author of the global bestseller Emotional Intelligence, explains that a state of inspiration arises through deep focus — when the mind is fully absorbed in the process. It is through concentration that creative thinking is activated and new ideas emerge.

In his book Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, Goleman argues that emotional intelligence — including self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy — develops only when a person can direct attention inward, toward others, and toward the external environment. This ability is called “triple focus,” and it forms the foundation for creativity, productivity, and genuine self-actualization.

In acting, there is one key element that all actors train: the ability to concentrate on both internal and external tasks. All acting practices are designed to develop this cognitive skill through the method of play. Attention concentration is not just a skill; it is the foundation for entering the so-called flow state, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. In this state, a person feels fully engaged, inspired, and capable. During deep concentration, the sense of time, anxiety, and inner fragmentation disappears — giving way to a feeling of wholeness and connection with oneself.

Daniel Goleman emphasizes that attention is an internal resource that determines not only productivity but also the level of emotional well-being. Deep concentration provides a sense of control, the ability to complete tasks, handle complex challenges, and realize one’s inner potential.

Finally, I want to share a few books that inspired me and can help you dive deeper into the topic of attention and focus:

1. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again (Johann Hari).

   Hari explores why our ability to focus is declining in today’s world, looking at the influence of technology, social media, and the environment. He also offers practical strategies to regain focus—both on a personal level and as a society.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (Nir Eyal).

   This book provides actionable techniques for managing your attention, avoiding distractions, and building habits that help you stay focused on what truly matters. It’s a great guide for anyone struggling to reclaim their time and mental energy.

1. Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity (Dr. Gloria Mark).

   Dr. Mark takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, computer science, and sociology, to explain why our brains aren’t built for constant task-switching. Rapidly jumping between digital distractions fragments attention and drains mental resources, making deep focus increasingly rare. Her research offers effective ways to restore attention, boost productivity, and find balance in a distracted world.

   

Together, these three books provide a thorough, complementary view of attention, focus, and how to protect our cognitive resources in the digital age.

In my next blog, I’ll share some practical exercises you can use in everyday life to regain your focus and train yourself to concentrate for longer periods. Remember: where attention goes, energy flows! Stay tuned!