The Problem With Focus

focus | ˈfōkəs |

noun (plural focuses or foci | ˈfōˌsī, -ˌkī | )

the center of interest or activity:

—

I’m someone who always has a new idea that would change my life or the world if I could simply stop everything I’m doing, quit my business, and focus on making my genius idea a reality. But somehow, it’s as if all the world conspires against me, and all of a sudden my boss gives me a new project, a friend is in crisis, my refrigerator is empty again (my kids eat like there’s no tomorrow), I’m having a really bad day, or I got a gross stomach bug out of nowhere. How in the world does this happen all the time? 

It’s really beyond me! 

It’s not that I’m not motivated. It’s not that I’m not excited to see results or, at the least, some progress. The thing is there is always a bid for my attention aka my focus. When everything is happening at once, it feels like it’s all important and are all deserving of my focus. Yet, if everything is important, nothing is important. (Read that again!)

The problem isn’t that life always comes at us fast - it’s our focus! You know what I’m learning that’s changing my world for the better? What I focus on is 100% my choice.There’s no universal conspiracy that dictates that. My focus is well within my wheelhouse to steward with wisdom. You know what else I’ve learned that I totally refused to accept for the longest time? You can only focus on one thing at a time! Yep, I said it. You can technically only give undivided attention to one thing at a time. Choose wisely, my friend.

If you’re like me and have some big idea or dream you want to pursue and see it realized, you can’t afford to have your attention hijacked by everything that asks for it. Put some boundaries around your time. Say “no” to pop-up matters (if and when possible). Most importantly, you’ve got to focus on it.

I’m cheering you on, my friend. You’ve got this! 

Great book recommendation on focus: The One Thing by Gary Keller

Take care of you and your dreams,

endia