--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to train myself to focus my…" description: "\"I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.\" — Tom Cr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/tom-cruise-3523_attention_i-had-to-train-myself-to-focus-my-attent_2419350.jpg" --- # I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very… ![“I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.” quote by Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/tom-cruise-3523_attention_i-had-to-train-myself-to-focus-my-attent_2419350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/tom-cruise-3523_attention_i-had-to-train-myself-to-focus-my-attent_2419350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/tom-cruise-3523_attention_i-had-to-train-myself-to-focus-my-attent_2419350.jpg) > “I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.” [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Training focus turns reading into vivid mental pictures, enhancing comprehension. **In simple terms:** Visualizing helps understand reading. Key Takeaway Practice visualizing while reading. Themes focus visualization learning Mood motivational practical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - studying - public speaking - memory training - creative problem solving Key Concepts cognitive psychology mental imagery Questions to Reflect On - Can you picture scenes while reading? - What techniques improve mental imagery? A Different Perspective Not everyone can easily create vivid images. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-visual-5478629/) [Dyslexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexia/) [Dyslexic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexic/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-attention/) [Mental Images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-images-327036/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Visual Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-learned-6117444/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) ## Related quotes > [When I was about 7 years old, I had been labeled dyslexic. I'd try to concentrate on what I was reading, then I'd get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/when-i-was-about-7-years-old-i-had-been-labeled-dyslexic-i-d-try-to/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Pay attention to your visual themes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mayne/pay-attention-to-your-visual-themes/) [Andrew Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mayne/) > [If one person in a group of ten is missing the tip of his little finger, I will notice it almost immediately. This extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/if-one-person-in-a-group-of-ten-is-missing-the-tip-of-his-little/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [When nobody read, dyslexia wasn't a problem. When most people had to hunt, a minor genetic variation in your ability to focus attention was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/when-nobody-read-dyslexia-wasn-t-a-problem-when-most-people-had-to/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [I'm a bit dyslexic so I found learning to read hard. I muddled up the letters but learnt to power through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-m-a-bit-dyslexic-so-i-found-learning-to-read-hard-i-muddled-up-the/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I'm quite dyslexic in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-quite-dyslexic-in-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am severely dyslexic, so I'm not the person who can do a lot of typing, writing and mathematics. I don't excel in anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raha-moharrak/i-am-severely-dyslexic-so-i-m-not-the-person-who-can-do-a-lot-of/) [Raha Moharrak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raha-moharrak/) > [I couldn't read. I just scraped by. My solution back then was to read classic comic books because I could figure them out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-schwab/i-couldn-t-read-i-just-scraped-by-my-solution-back-then-was-to-read/) [Charles R. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-schwab/) > [I, myself, was always recognized . . . as the “slow one” in the family. It was quite true, and I knew it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-myself-was-always-recognized-as-the-slow-one-in-the-family-it-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I am, myself, a very poor visualizer and find that I can seldom call to mind even a single letter of the alphabet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/i-am-myself-a-very-poor-visualizer-and-find-that-i-can-seldom-call-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [It caused more problems as a young kid, because the simple process of perceiving words on a piece of paper was hard for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/it-caused-more-problems-as-a-young-kid-because-the-simple-process-of/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [With my recovery programme, I have to do a daily inventory of how my day has been. I am terribly dyslexic and have attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/with-my-recovery-programme-i-have-to-do-a-daily-inventory-of-how-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Tom Cruise > [I'm not greedy. I just want my half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-m-not-greedy-i-just-want-my-half/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [When I work, I work very hard. So I look to work with people who have that level of dedication. And I depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/when-i-work-i-work-very-hard-so-i-look-to-work-with-people-who-have/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [The important thing is to be relaxed in your work. Same in life. Don't make everything too intense. Then you can let everything go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/the-important-thing-is-to-be-relaxed-in-your-work-same-in-life-don-t/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [We live in a world in which we are able to communicate very quickly in many different ways, and yet we find communicating more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-we-are-able-to-communicate-very-quickly/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I look at the Samurai because they were the artists of their time. What I think struck me when I read Bushido is compassion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-look-at-the-samurai-because-they-were-the-artists-of-their-time/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I'm a romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-m-a-romantic/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I structure the scripts and work on them on films and work on scenes with writers and but I haven't written a script myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-structure-the-scripts-and-work-on-them-on-films-and-work-on-scenes/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Talk is over-rated as a means of settling disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/talk-is-over-rated-as-a-means-of-settling-disputes/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Yes, of course. Are you really so arrogant as to believe we are alone in this universe? Millions of stars, and we're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/yes-of-course-are-you-really-so-arrogant-as-to-believe-we-are-alone/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [My childhood was extremely lonely. I was dyslexic and lots of kids make fun of me. That experience made me tough inside, because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/my-childhood-was-extremely-lonely-i-was-dyslexic-and-lots-of-kids/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [The thing about film-making is I give it everything, that's why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/the-thing-about-film-making-is-i-give-it-everything-that-s-why-i-work/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Do I make mistakes? Yeah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/do-i-make-mistakes-yeah/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [It seems to me that if there were any logic to our language, trust would be a four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/it-seems-to-me-that-if-there-were-any-logic-to-our-language-trust/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I have cooked turkeys in my day but when Mom's around I let her do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-have-cooked-turkeys-in-my-day-but-when-mom-s-around-i-let-her-do-it/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I've been...chased by paparazzi, and they run lights, and they chase you and harass you the whole time. It happens all over the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-ve-been-chased-by-paparazzi-and-they-run-lights-and-they-chase-you/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) [Explore all 128 Tom Cruise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had to train myself to focus my attention. 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