“Mastering the Power of Focus” Part 1

Have you ever done a particular task or activity while you were distracted, then again when you were focused? Could you see/feel a difference? Were the results different?

I’m from the school of thought that, in order to do something well, and get it done in a timely manner, you need to focus on that one particular thing, preferably without interruption, if possible. I don’t say that because it’s easy to do, but because, based on experience, it’s the way you get the best results, and get things done within a reasonable time frame.

However, if you think that by simply “focusing”, your phone will stop ringing, e-mails will stop coming through, or people will refrain from disturbing you, I would say that you’re a bit delusional! That’s not going to happen. Mastering the power of focus refers to being able to block out that which is around you (or even within at times), or anything outside of what you’re focusing on, in order to complete a task or activity, fulfill a purpose, or reach a goal.

Ever wonder why parents say to their children, “no tv until your homework is done”? Because they want their child to focus on the task at hand, and get it done.

How do you think gold-medalists, professional athletes, performing artists, public speakers, etc. are able to excel under very stressful and high-pressure circumstances? They have mastered the power of focus.

Now I must warn you, some people may not appreciate your new-found “power of focus” attitude, because it means that they may not have the same access to you that they once had. You may take a little longer to get back to someone, or you may have to say ‘no’ on occasion, because while you’re focusing on one thing, other people/things will have to wait. People, in general, tend to have a lack of patience, especially nowadays with the speed of technology that we’ve all grown so accustom to. So be prepared for some opposition.

If you start to feel guilty, or wonder if it’s all worth it or not, just think about your doctor. Would you want him/her to examine you, and two other patients at the same time? Would you mind if he/she was texting while doing surgery on you? Or would you prefer that his/her total and complete focus be on you, until the task is complete? I already know the answer to that question.

Please note that while writing this blog post I did not check my e-mail, BBM, text, answer calls, or check voice msgs once. 🙂

Stay tuned for “Mastering the Power of Focus” Part 2, where I’ll discuss how mastering the power of focus can improve your health and wellness. If you have questions, or a specific topic you’d like me to cover in this series, please feel free to leave a comment.