You are where you are right now because of what you have focused on. We are always moving in the direction of our focus. Success, failure, and goal achievement are all a result of focus. What we focus on, we intensify and empower. Consider the sun, when it’s rays are focused using a magnifying glass, it can start a fire. In the same way, what you focus on becomes magnified and powerful.
As a performing strongman, this has direct application in my feats of strength. When breaking concrete bricks with my bare fist, my focus is on the exact spot of impact that will allow me to smash through the stack. If my focus is off, the only thing that will get broken is my hand. Another feat that takes tremendous focus is driving a nail through a board with my hand. If I become distracted, I could experience a serious injury.
When focusing on our goals, we will constantly have to fight against distractions. There are thousands of thoughts running through our minds all the time. Too many times we allow those thoughts to distract and redirect our focus. Whether it is completing a workout or an important business project, distractions can derail us.
Power Of Focus
Even good things can become a distraction for us. The 1996 United States Women’s Softball team is a great example of this. This gold medal winning team only lost one game during the Olympics. The U.S. was playing Australia. The game was scoreless in the fifth inning when Danielle Tyler came up to bat. She hit a powerful blast right over the center field fence. Danielle jubilantly ran around the bases. As she rounded third base, her teammates gathered at home plate to celebrate her Home run. In the midst of the celebration with her team, Danielle was distracted and never touched home plate. The umpire called her out, after an appeal from their opponents. The game ended up scoreless in regulation, and the U. S. team ended up losing in extra innings. What should have been a win, turned out to be a loss because she lost focus. Too many times in life, we cross third base but never score.
We must learn to discipline ourselves to be focused on what we want to achieve. One of the simplest ways to begin this process is writing down your goals and reviewing them. Keeping your goals in sight will help you to silence the non-priorities that are shouting for your attention. Rap star Eminem once shared about focus during a project , “The album requires a certain focus of mine that I can’t really explain – let’s just say it’s all I can really do while I’m doing it.” Goal achievement requires laser-like focus.
If you are not satisfied with where you are at right now, I have good news. You can change your direction, because focus is a choice. Place your focus on where you want to be and where you want to go. You will be amazed at what you accomplish.
