We have to become familiar with our thoughts, emotions, and impulsivity, in order to gain more control of ourselves and our environment. The daily practice is important because it helps strengthen our future abilities to focus and be present. When we lose control, working to refocus on the present moment after being unconsciously pulled away by those incessant thoughts and emotions, which were just reactions to our manipulating environment. The reason why it’s important to focus intensely on the task at hand while avoiding distraction is because this is the only way to isolate the relevant neural circuit enough to trigger useful myelination. By focusing intensely on a specific skill, you’re forcing the specific circuit to fire, again and again, in isolation. Historical figures have been practicing this for a long time, like Michel de Montaigne who said when he walks alone in a beautiful orchard, if his thoughts are some part of the time taken up with external occurrences, he some part of the time calls them back again to his walk, to the orchard, to the sweetness of that solitude, and to himself. Meditation and mindfulness have come a long way, and their principles behind the methods are just focus and presence, then applying these principles as a daily practice.