{"id":792,"date":"2009-09-01T20:55:52","date_gmt":"2009-09-01T19:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.iceandlemon.com\/v6\/?p=792"},"modified":"2009-09-01T20:55:52","modified_gmt":"2009-09-01T19:55:52","slug":"focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.iceandlemon.com\/v7\/focus\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cOne reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Anthony Robbins, US self-help expert, author and adviser to leaders]<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

(1066 words, approx 6-8 mins to read)<\/span><\/p>\n

In our last ‘slice’ <\/a>we talked about AWAY-FROM and TOWARDS types of motivation, and I made the assertion that the only way to achieve long-lasting, fulfilling and satisfying results was to make sure that your motivation was mostly, if not fully, of the TOWARDS variety.<\/p>\n

If you still haven\u2019t quite got why, even after a quick reminder by re-reading the last slice if you need to, imagine trying to drive using only your rear-view mirrors, or trying to run somewhere with your head turned to look behind you all the time.<\/p>\n

This time I promised to discuss with you how you make sure your motivation is of the TOWARDS kind, but before I get to that I need to chat a little bit about mountain biking\u2026<\/p>\n

Some of you may know that when I get the time I like nothing more than riding up and down bleak hillsides, across moors and hurtling along singletrack through pine forests. One of the first things I learned when I started, the hard way I might add, is how to avoid obstacles on the trail.<\/p>\n

The vital element is to NOT look at the obstacle. Instead, you have to focus your attention on the gap that you want the bike to go through, the route you actually DO want the bike to take around or over the obstacle. The rule of thumb is that the bike goes where your attention already is \u2013 if you\u2019re looking at what you want to avoid, you\u2019ll hit it!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about FOCUS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You could also think about taking decent photographs \u2013 even with today\u2019s auto-everything cameras, you still need to make sure the central subject is in FOCUS, often by making sure they\u2019re in the centre of the frame or telling the camera where they are.<\/p>\n

Again, it\u2019s all about FOCUS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s your FOCUS that determines whether you\u2019re AWAY-FROM or TOWARDS motivated. Remember though that what we\u2019re talking about here isn\u2019t just what your eyes are focused on \u2013 we\u2019re talking about your mental and emotional FOCUS \u2013 what your mind and \u2018heart\u2019 are currently paying attention to.<\/p>\n

As most of you may have noticed, our FOCUS is often a fickle phenomenon, flitting from one thing to the next without any apparent rhyme or reason. But with a little effort and gentle persistence your FOCUS can be pointed where you decide it should be.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a simple experiment. Read through the instructions below fully and then give it a go:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
    \n
  1. Take a deep breath and close your eyes<\/li>\n
  2. Make a clear space in your mind and focus on the number \u20181\u2019 in whatever way seems most appropriate for you.<\/li>\n
  3. Breathe in and out in a relaxed manner and count each breath, focusing in each number in turn, i.e. \u20182\u2019… \u20183\u2019… \u20184\u2019…<\/li>\n
  4. See how far you can count before anything<\/span> other than the numbers and your breathing pops into your head. Be totally honest \u2013 even if your attention wanders for a moment, you have to stop and note how far you\u2019ve managed to count.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Most people read the instructions and think this is a simple exercise, expecting to be going for a while. However, many are surprised when they don\u2019t even manage to get to \u201810\u2019 before their attention wanders. If you practise meditation or yoga you may find this easier, but most of us aren\u2019t that well disciplined yet.<\/p>\n

    You see, our attention moves amongst a multitude of stimuli, from the outside world and our inner world too, like a searchlight looking for things to focus on. The search stops when we react emotionally to one of those stimuli, even fleetingly and from the depths of our unconscious \u2013 it can sometimes happen so fast we aren\u2019t even aware of it.<\/p>\n

    If it happens to be a negative reaction, like anxiety, fear, upset, guilt, regret, or something along the lines of \u201cOh no\u2026\u201d, guess what..? – we have the basis for AWAY-FROM motivation. If it\u2019s a positive feeling like happiness, contentment, satisfaction, desire (the good form \u2013 remember?), or something along the lines of \u201cOoo yes..!\u201d then we have the foundation for the lovely TOWARDS variety of drive.<\/p>\n

    All too often though we get stuck at the \u201cOh no\u2026\u201d stage, and forget to realise that we can step beyond it, like I should\u2019ve done on my mountain bike when I got a little too fixated on the rut across the trail instead of nudging my attention one step further to deciding how I needed to adjust my weight on the bike to make it over the rut safely.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s that shift of FOCUS, which may require a regular nudge, or the occasional heave, to the \u201cOoo yes..!\u201d side \u2013 from what we don\u2019t want to what we DO \u2013 that makes the difference between AWAY-FROM and TOWARDS.<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s one useful way to finding that FOCUS:<\/p>\n

    \n
    \n
      \n
    1. Pick a goal or achievement you desire<\/li>\n
    2. Notice where you\u2019re FOCUS is \u2013 as you think about that goal or achievement, are you focused on avoiding something you don\u2019t want (AWAY-FROM), or taking hold of something good (TOWARDS)? If you\u2019re not sure, notice whether you\u2019re thinking and feeling something negative or uneasy, or something wholly positive?<\/li>\n
    3. If you\u2019re focusing on avoiding something negative, ask yourself the question, \u201cWell, if that\u2019s what I don\u2019t want, what is it that I DO want instead?\u201d and keep digging until you find that TOWARDS.<\/li>\n
    4. Once you have that positive \u2018DO want\u2019 in your mind, imagine it as rich and detailed as you can \u2013 bright colours, clear sounds, and notice what you\u2019re feeling too \u2013 until you can\u2019t help but respond with an \u201cOoo yes..!\u201d<\/li>\n
    5. From now on, each time you may find your attention wandering when you\u2019re working on the steps to that achievement or goal, nudge your attention back to the \u201cOoo yes..!\u201d and hold that FOCUS until you feel that positive reaction resurfacing again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      Like anything worthwhile, this does take a little practice but then the day will come when you find you\u2019ve done it without realising that\u2019s what you did until it\u2019s already happened. You can give yourself a head-start by practising the first breathing exercise on a regular basis, or even by picking one task each day that you will give your undivided attention to, and will commit to re-focusing on each time your attention wanders, until it’s completed.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s all about FOCUS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Until next time,<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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