The information we consume, generates a perception in our minds. Very often we lose control over ourthoughts. Our minds begin to ponder on things that would not bring us any value. If we dwell on thesethoughts, it will influence our ability to act. We get distracted from our goal. How do we stay focused?
Take for example media postings – a glamorous post of a friend that you might have not seen for along time. Maybe they now have a fancy car, glamorous clothes and a big house. At least the picture showsthat, but the truth is that you do not really know if they have it. You do not really know how they feel. Butyou panic and judge yourself!
Are you judging yourself based on someone else achievements?
You begin to question your achievements. The truth is that we all process the information we consume inyour conscious or unconscious state of mind. I have even seen people who then channel all their efforts to belike someone they saw in a social mdeia post. To achieve what they have achieved, so that they too can sendout such postings on your media. Do you know what you are doing? Wasting your precious time. Youare wasting your time because no two individuals is born to achieve the same things. No two individual isborn to walk the same path.
Getting distracted to divert from ones own path is super easy.
External factors can be very instrumental in distracting you. Especially when you live in an environment that’sway too comfortable. Believe me, you might say, never! Comfort is a great privilege but also a state that canmake you distracted to lose focus of the things you want to achieve. Comfort can keep you running in ahamster wheel. You could get stuck doing the same things everyday just simply because its comfortable. Onthe contrary, hardship is bound to make you distracted, if you let your focus dwell on the limitations and lack. So, at the end of the day, there are so many factors that can pull you away from your desired path.
What do you do when this happens? How do you get back on track?
When you find yourself caught up in this trap, try this simple practice to get you back on track — Reset yourintention. In my 6 key foundation program, we will explore practices that can help you stay focused. When we talk about resetting our intention, it means to align your intentions towards actions that take you to your own goals. Reseting your intention means to identify actions that brings you a step closer to your goal. Sometimes you panicking to meet up a race that’s not your own can lead to anxiety.
It took me a long while to realize that I am here just to walk my own journey. No matter the critic, the comfort, the achievements, the struggles, I am on my own journey, so I can choose my pace, I can choose my actions. Iam therefore constantly resetting my intentions when I feel lost or distracted.
To be able to do this you should already have figured out your own goal. Be it a small goal or the big picturevision. Now, what is left for you to do is to consistently be aware that life involves consuming information. Weare consistently consuming information. And the information we consume will shape the goals we set. Whatever goal or vision you have set for yourself this year, this month, this week or this hour, this is your focus. Your sole focus should be on contiously creating actions that would lead you to achieving these goals.
How do you create conscious actions to reach your goal?
By setting and resetting your intentions towards the goal. I emphasis on resetting because we live in a worldwhere we recieve consistent information. And this information, which were supposed to be barely externalfactors can influence our day to day intentions. They can make us lose focus. In order to build a consistentstrivie towards your goal, you can master the simply habit of asking why. This is an internal exercise that runsin your mind but helps you monitor your actions and identify if they connect with your goals.
I actually do this very often during some hectic days. I have my once empty book where I write down exactly the why. If I find it hard to write this down in my book, maybe its too complicated to explain why, or Ifind it hard to articulate it properly or I just do not find a good why, I shift that action backwards. I hope you all have your books, once empty but now getting filled with ideas and practices. I talked about the power of an empty book in another article which you can read here.
Ask why!
Why do I have this meeting today? Why do I want to be a mother? Why do I feel unhealthy? Why do I want totravel abroad. Why should I vote for this politician? Why do I invest my energy in this relationship? Theconscious and consistent questioning of your thoughts and proposed actions will lead you to be the master ofyour actions.
I know that some of you out there have really great experience practices on how to stay focused. I also know that some of you out there struggle with staying focused. Please your thoughts, struggles, practices that work for you and comments on this topic.
Thank you so much for staying till the nd of this article.
See you next week as we handle a brand new issue that entreprenuers experience in their daily lives.
Cheers,
Joana
