Focus~ Are You On Track?

“If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life.” Abraham H. Maslow

Moving beyond limits to grow business or improve lifestyle takes focus, concentrated attention. So the question becomes are you focused and taking action on the things that will generate a life you can feel enthusiastic about. Get out paper and pen, and follow these 3 essentials to get your attention on what makes a difference.

1- Declutter your Head~ Get “to do’s” out of your head and into a system. Once completed you’ll realize why you felt scattered. Just as your computer slows up when packed full of information… so does your brain. Maintain a task list on paper (you can pick one up at http://www.StartingNowCoaching.com or use a tech planning system such as a palm handheld, software, etc. Categorize your life’s departments such as Personal, Home, Business or Work, and any other roles that exhaust your time. List “to do’s” with deadlines. Don’t be conce
ed with the list length. Just get it out of your head.

2- Determine Your Deepest Desire~ With an uncluttered mind imagine yourself age 85 with a terminal illness spending lots of time alone thinking back on how you did things. In order to end your life feeling good about how you lived with few regrets ponder this scenario. On your paper answer the following with regards to what you want to be thinking at age 85 (NOTE: not necessarily how things have been up until this point).

How did you make decisions throughout your life?
How did you spend your time?
How did you nourish your mind, body, & spirit?
How did you relate to others?
What were your dreams?
What are you proud of?
What was most fun and made you so happy?
How did your actions serve the world?
What was most rewarding and brought great fulfillment?
In reviewing the above responses, what is your deepest desire that needs your clear attention? Write it down and commit it to memory.

3- Choose Habits that Generate A Happy Life~ If you are not living up to your capabilities, you will tend to feel unfulfilled. In the book The Power of Focus, authors Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt state that “up to 90 percent of our normal behavior is based on habits.” The exercise above begins to create the mission for a fulfilling lifelong journey. Now, what habits need to change that no longer serve you. Go back to the scenario as an 85 year old and ask yourself:

What 10 daily habits ultimately determine the journey and outcome of my life?

You can focus on one habit at a time each month if you like. The point is to begin to make the shift to the life you are committed to carry out.

Focus on taking action on the habits that serve you most, then handle your “to do’s”. Set yourself up for a life you feel good about, while setting the foundation to avoid the “I should have…” phrase down the road. Let me know how it works out. Take your first focused action… StartingNow!

Copyright 2005 © Beth A. Tabak, All rights reserved.