A Primer on Focus – Kirby Ingles

In a study performed by Matthew Killingsworth on the everyday activities of more than 2,000 adults, it was realized 47% were not focused. Along with the finding, Matthew became aware that people were less happy when their minds were wandering.

By reading this primer on focus you will learn what focus is, why it’s important and what distracts you. Your family, friends and community demand your time, social media and email consume you, and there is never enough time. How can you get anything done? You must focus. Sounds pretty easy, but it requires time, practice and energy.

For the last six months I was a Senior Spokesmen and Trainer and before that a Senior Human Resources Manager. Everyone wanted my attention and everyone’s problem was a priority. I was also an active member of two community organizations, worked as a sports official, raised two boys and was going to school half-time. I did all this by learning to focus and end distractions.

To achieve success in anything you do, you must first know what focus is, why it’s important and what harms your ability to concentrate.

 

What is Focus?

Focus is the ability to apply one’s mind to what you do and avoid distractions. Let’s begin with the origin of the word.  It originated from the mid 17th century meaning domestic hearth. The hearth is a home or a fireplace. In other words, the hub where all energy and activity takes place. Focus is later used in a mathematical and optical sense. Not until the late 18th century was it recorded as meaning the center of activity or energy. When you focus you are engaging the Prefrontal Cortex located behind your forehead. Your brain is a muscle, the more we train it, the stronger it becomes. Keeping these points in mind, the art of focusing is collecting data from your surroundings to generate the precise energy and precision to concentrate on what’s before you.  Some call this being in the zone, staying on target, keeping your head on the ball.

 

Why is focus important to you?

Focus is the secret to success during difficult moments. It’s the most critical factor. The more focused you are the more successful you become. The more distracted, the more you under perform.  Recall a moment of success…now poor performance. You did everything just the same way, changing nothing…but your focus. Never the less focus is critical in your ability to concentrate in tough spots. The strength of your desire to persevere will help you overcome adversity. Athletes are not the only ones who find themselves in difficult situations, could be a presentation, interview, deadlines,  and even in your relationships.

 

What limits your ability to focus?

This brings us to the internal and external distractions which harm your focus.

 

• Internal distractions occur when your mind cannot filter out thoughts. Ideas and events continue to play in your head over and over competing for attention. Your mind starts wondering as the distraction takes possession and almost immediately you realize your daydreaming. Examples are hunger, fatigue, confrontation, or anxiety.

 

• External distractions occur when things in our environment grab our attention. This is anything within your visibility and those things you hear. Athletes experience external distractions in the shape of crowd noise, trash talking, and movement in the stands or on the sidelines. In your personal life people, phones, notifications, and email become a hazard to your focus.

 

In conclusion, when you focus your increasing the odds of success in tough spots, regulating both internal and external distractions. Focus is the ability to apply one’s mind to the task at hand.  When you learn the habit it becomes the secret to success during difficult situations. Identifying the potential distractions that draw your focus away allows you to center your attention on the prize.

 

Andrew Carnegie stated,

“The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind,

may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled to.”

 

What are you focusing on?