Focus

So many of us spend our days running the “movies” of our lives ... we stay in the past, or we go to the future, but we have a hard time staying where we are. This lack of focus in the present robs us in our personal lives and in our professional lives.

Obviously, there’s nothing you can do about the past. And, there’s no sense in worrying about the future — studies show that 95% of what is commonly worried about never comes to pass. Further, the 5% that arrives normally carries much less of an impact than what was first feared. So, why worry about something that might never occur? Why put your energy into something that might never happen?

On the other hand, how many times have you planned something for your future and when the future arrived, you had not accomplished the plan? Have you ever gone back and re-evaluated yourself, or what you could have done to accomplish that? I can almost guarantee that one factor had to do with a lack of focus on the daily and weekly activities that would have you arriving at that future intention.

WHY THE PRESENT IS CALLED A PRESENT.

Have you ever thought about why the present is called present? Your present is a gift.

All we have is the present. So let’s enjoy it. Let’s not worry about the future, and let’s not go into the past and cry about it. Let’s stay here in the present and make the most of it every day.

Once you make this work for you, you will find that you have a different level of energy in you. You’ll begin to see how your present focus connects you to your ongoing journey, your real purpose in life. When you’re on track and on the path, it all becomes so much easier. So, let’s get focused on focus.

EXERCISE #1: UNPLUG TO PLUG IN

In today’s highly connected world, we can allow ourselves to be swept away by all the interruptions, robbing us of focus on our present. Today’s technology will consume your time and energy like a hungry animal, and the more leeway you give it, the hungrier it seems to become. You have to physically unplug yourself from your distractions.

When I enter my practice, my assistant Cindy takes my watch, my pager, my cell phone, and my Palm Pilot all away from me. We don’t even have clocks anywhere in the office. This allows me to stay focused — in the present — with each and every client I work with through the day.

What are you willing to commit to doing right now that will help remove the distractions in your day?

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EXERCISE #2: EMPTY YOUR HEAD

Another simple technique you can do to bring yourself to focus more effectively is to empty your head of all that’s cluttering it in your day ahead. You have a school meeting, you have to pick up your kid from somewhere, you have a hot date to go on, or you have a dinner date, or you’re expecting somebody’s phone call, or you’re supposed to make a phone call to someone.

Make a commitment to take just 8 minutes and start each and every day (or the evening before) with a list of all the projects and events going on in your head. Write it all down and be done with it. It’s all there. You won’t forget anything. Trust your list to hold all your thought and planning and possible drama around your items, then get on with your highest priority of the day.

EXERCISE #3: EMPTYING DOES NOT MEAN IGNORING

Many of us can get so caught up in our activities and future planning that we can take advantage of or simply ignore the people who are closest to us. Think back over your last week or so and you just might find this to be true.

This exercise asks only that you consciously focus on those closest to you. Push back from your computer when they call or come into your office. Stop working when you promised to participate in activities with them. Give them your TOTAL focus and attention.

A Salutation to the Dawn — "Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the varieties and realities of your existence – the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision. But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day."