Since we’re still effectively starting a new year, this question is particularly timely. A new year – even a new week, month, or quarter – can be our time to turn over a fresh leaf.
And, like anything in our lives, it happens when we make it enough of a priority to focus our ideas and efforts on a specific target.
A habit I’ve often found myself falling into at the start of a new year is initially having a ton of goals in mind, maybe 10 or more.
This is followed by a period of doing overwhelm.
And then the penny drops and I remember it’s powerful when we hone in. 1
It’s like a magnifying glass. When the sun is allowed to filter through the glass in a single point for a period of time, that’s when it creates so much heat that can even spark a flame.
How do we do this with focusing on our goals? An effective place to begin is knowing our why or reason to do something.
A fab quote I learned from one of my mentors comes to mind – “the hand will not reach for what the heart does not yearn for”. Meaning that we’ll go for it when it’s something we really desire.
Maybe for you it’s something important that’s health related, like having more energy. Using this example, one of the key elements that helps with our energy is being optimally hydrated, and for many of us this means making it a regular habit to drink more water. By the time we’re thirst, we’re definitely dehydrated!
And, if my goal is to drink more water, the optimal daily amount of 1.5 L might seem a lot when I’m beginning with this new habit.
However, all of us can do just one thing. We can all add in one more glass of plain water each morning. We can cut out one non-water drink (like a coffee or soda).
A sharper my focus means more success.
It’s similar to what Darren Hardy says in his blockbuster The Compound Effect, when he refers to big results being possible from regular baby steps taken over a period of time.
As we close-out, I love hearing from you with your aha’s and questions, ready for us diving deeper on this week’s #AlivewithFi – til then, ciao for now =)
1 “Whatever you spend your time focusing on will determine the color and texture your life takes on.”
Having an unwieldy number of things to focus on is counterproductive! Less can be more.
“Why Focusing on What You Want is the Only Way to Make it Happen”
C. Schesser, (2015)
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
