Nevertheless even when our senses are being bombarded from outside, we can still choose to concentrate our attention on something else by an act of will. It is not always easy, because our previous will has already acted, along with the actions of other souls' wills also, to create the present circumstances. In this way we can choose to change our patterns, even those that have been strongly willed previously. The first step in any act of will is choosing where to place our attention. By giving something attention we are making it important and allowing our consciousness to work with it.
Attention is a prerequisite for conscious learning and understanding.
Concentration is when we persevere in our conscious attention and thus magnify the power of our thought with an enduring focus. In this way, effort is an important factor in developing mental ability and achievement. Attention can also be an openness to whatever demands or draws our interest. Every little conscious choice of attention we make defines our values of what we believe is important. As attention directs our consciousness of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions, intention chooses and decides our conscious actions.