Can you feel more then one way at a time???

Question

Can you focus upon more than one thing???

Answer 1

Are you asking about feeling, focusing, or both? It looks like you're asking two questions, so I'd better answer likewise.

Feeling. We're talking emotion, right? Seems to me you can feel only one way at a time, though that may be very complex. First we feel, then we make sense of our feeling; that's when we parse it into types we're familiar with. Really, where does happiness end and sadness begin? Where is the boundary? I don't see any sharp line, feelings blend together like colors in a rainbow.

I don't recall many times when my emotions were 100% "pure" - what I could call sheer happiness, complete and utter bitterness,... They do happen, but I notice them *because* they're so simple.

Pure red - what is that? There's quite a bit going on in a single color. I'm not about to say there's no such thing; but I will say it all strikes me as very complex to begin with.

Emotions are global, the sources local. Mix two colored lights, and you get a new hue. Take a wet piece of paper; let two drops of different colored ink fall near each other, and watch how they mingle. Emotions are responses that behave this way, as I see it anyhow.

Focus. *Focus* and *awareness* are different things; I can be aware of quite a bit more, though I'll center my attention on some spot. Focusing on more than one thing at a time strikes me as a flat contradiction.

Time lets us focus on more than one thing, but I don't think this is really possible simultaneously.

If I "multitask", it's more like shuttling back and forth between one thing and another, not simultaneous true *focus.* But just because I can't do it doesn't make it impossible. Still, I'm very skeptical.

True multitasking would involve awareness of different things without focus on any. To do that, you'd have to have control over everything you're aware of. Listening to the stereo while doing homework is easy when neither thing challenges you. Chances are you're listening to music you know already, so no surprises; the homework may well be busywork. But put on a CD somebody lent you, and I expect you'll be drawn toward it - you might well forget about the problems you need to do. If one of those problems is harder, and you want to solve it, the music will probably drop out.

This is probably my biases made general. But my own experience has given me these thoughts, and I don't think I'm really any different than anybody else.

Answer 2

It's possible, but difficult. People usually don't, and we feel uncomfortable with complicated feelings. "I love him, BUT he makes me mad..."
I think this is demonstrated best by the fact that people simply cannot understand, and choose not to understand, in many cases, that God does this constantly. They say "A loving God would not send people to hell!" He is Love, but He has wrath upon sin. He Rejoices, but punishes because a Holy God cannot be in the presence of sin, and He weeps when life is destroyed because of sin.
I think the more mature a person is, the better they can focus on the higher good, and make decisions for the best, regardless of feelings. God does this constantly.

Answer 3

I guess we all can. We can be terrified and thankful at the same time;..like seeing an accident and learning none of your friends or relatives were there. We can be frightened yet be vigilant;..like when a bad guy escapes from prison and we secure our homes and be prepared to overpower him just in case. We can even laugh and cry at the same time; And also, we can sing and dance and play some instrument all at one time.
In terms of work, the focus may not be 100 %, but we can receive calls while working on some papers. I can even answer you while working on my designs. Isn't that cool?

Answer 4

You can feel more than one way at a time. Most people avoid confronting that, and become the puppet of their feelings. But if you stop, stay calm, and look into the pool of your mind without fear or preconception, you can usually see many options, but select one thing - the most appropriate and useful - to focus on. And as we can only really focus on one thing, that gives you power to act as wisely as you can. My daughter used to reckon she could only study with music playing. I reckoned that was balderdash - but she got her degree brilliantly. So what would I know! But I do know about feelings.

Answer 5

Hi Rena,
Yes, my mind is always on a number of things. I work from home, I do a lot for my local community and then there's the family. So I'm always trying to do a few jobs at once. In fact sometimes, too many. ... That's why I keep writing notes to remind myself of all I have to do. At least I never have time to get bored.
Polly

Answer 6

Not really, but it can feel like we can. We can feel different ways about a subject depending on where we stand internally. Also, when it feels like we concentrate or focus on more than one thing we are actually just moving very quickly between them so it feels as if we are focusing on more than one. try the observer technique, pull back in you head & observe yourself next time you think you are multi focusing & you will see it also. Thanks.

Answer 7

sometimes, i feel more than one thing. i feel like crying and laughing the same time. i feel like mixed emotions are jumbled inside me, and i don't even know what i'm gonna feel first. sometimes, i try to focus on one thing. but often times, it's really hard, because there are lots of messages the brain receives, and all i can do is multi-task. but, i feel great when i do stuffs at the same time. it practices my flexibility, time-management and competency. and i feel wonderful most of the time, i don't wanna waste not being able to show or feel it. =)

Answer 8

Yes
It's called multitasking
Llike listening to music and playing a game/talking to someone at the same time.
Unless your talking about feeling more than one way in a relationship.
Then the answer is... oh it's still yes. Being pulled into 2 different directions is quite common.

Answer 9

i can feel more than one way in a time when i feel sooooooo happy or sooooooooooo depresed
but i cant focus upon more than one thing in one time cuz it make me tired phsycially and mentally but i can think about things in order
however,i am too bad in organising my time hehehehehe

Answer 10

I think a person can feel more than one way at a time. I have a hard time staying focused on one thing. I don't dare try more than one.