Many issues with focus are self-inflicted. Many of these are developed during childhood and continue into later stages of life. If you want to change your behavior, you have to make a commitment to change your mindset. Many of life’s roadblocks are obstacles we have placed in our own paths that hinder our progress. Our perspectives and attitudes are entrenched in how we live our lives. These gremlins sabotage our ability to fulfill our purpose.
We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are. – The Talmud
Stress is an inevitable part of your life. You are going to experience it in every aspect. Laura Whitworth and her co-authors wrote that in our “chaotic, high-speed world of schedules, commitment, stress and demands on time and energy, there is a yearning for something called balance.” Many people cannot handle the change or stress of transition in their lives. This affects their commitment to focus. You therefore get out of balance with life. You may not be able to control all the variables of the environment. When you rest, hydrate, and are nourished, you can deal with stress and fatigue much better.
“You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails” – Unknown
Things You Don’t Want to be Asked.
These basic functions of life are neglected because they are not important on the surface and can easily be discarded as a low priority. Ask yourself the question, “What affect does that have on my relationships, family, health, stress level and reputation in the long run?”, when you are not hydrating, sleeping, or eating well.
In your daily life your values emerge when you feel stress, face a crisis, or need to make other important decisions. While you are under the gun, you immediately respond without having to be guided based on your values. Do you value yourself? Are you neglecting your commitment to the basic essential nutrients in life to keep you functioning at the top level or are you barely able to keep your head above the surface?
All Badges Are Not Honorable
We get caught up in the pressures of life and distractions, losing sight of how we should care for ourselves. Although it is easy to complain about our hectic lives and wear the busyness badge as if it was important, but in reality doing so weakens us. I could spoon feed you all the latest and greatest data on eating well, sleeping right, and properly hydrating, but what I have learned over the years is that it does not produce results.
My purpose is to walk alongside of you and partner with you to improve your commitment to quality of life. People resist change because they fear the unknown, are unsure of themselves and their abilities, and cling to the parts of their lives they are comfortable with. If you want to move forward, you need to make a commitment to step across the line.
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked.” – Proverbs 4:25-27
You know what you need to do. You see the bridge and are aware of it surroundings. You know the other side is better than the one you are standing on. You are focused on how hard it could be and what you might be missing out on rather than what you will gain from the experience. You may fear failure, but you do not focus on the strength you have and the wisdom you gain from trying.
I’ll never forget what my mother said to me back in college, after I was released from the hospital following a three-day blackout (complete with internal system crashes) caused by prolonged dehydration and starvation: “A 4.0 GPA does you no good if you’re dead.”
There’s a lot of talk out there telling us, “You can do MORE!” I think there should be a balance of talk reminding us that we can do LESS, as well. One of the chapters in my book, “The Best Advice So Far,” is devoted solely to this concept, and another to the importance of cultivating times of silence and renewal into our lives.
Hear! Hear!
Wow! That’s quite the story my friend.
Thanks for sharing. Your mother’s advice is definitely memorable. If you don’t mind I’m going to borrow it. It’s short, simple and very real. I might have to go back and re-evaluate my current pursuit of trying to maintain a 4.0 in grad school.
Please do! And I’m convinced that perfectionism and over-achievement can ruin a person as much as heroin — it’s just a prettier addiction.
Such a good post, Kirby. am focusing more on my writing these days, which means something has to give. I don’t spend nearly as much time on social media as I used to and am using that time to put into writing. It seems like media is my distraction of choice and I have to fight it more than ever, because everyone wants attention. Staying focused is key to getting anything done.