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Where’s Your Focus?

by Lyndsay Blais, Penticton

Have you managed to feel a moment or two of gratitude in the past few weeks?
Just a few of the many things I am grateful for are hot summer days on the beach, heart connections, the beauty of nature, healing with water, time with loved ones, and the unconditional love and support I experience in my life.

As a lover of learning, I decided to overcome my fear of water by learning how to swim this summer.   Needless to say, that particular goal has come with its challenges.  What I realized is this: if I want to shift how I feel, first of all I must accept how I feel rather than be in resistance to it.  Secondly, I need to focus on where I want to go, instead of reinforcing where I am or how far away the achievement of my goal feels.

How many times do you feel frustrated with where you are, because you are focusing on the fact that you have yet to arrive at your destination?

The truth is, as human beings we have a choice over where we focus our attention. 

As we approach the season of fall, it often feels like a new beginning, an opportunity for a fresh start.  We get back into our routines, kids are back at school, programs and classes start again and many people re-commit to their health and wellness goals.  If the end of the year is a significant completion date for you, by September it can sometimes feel necessary to sprint the last part of your “race”.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the pending onslaught of activities this fall, a great question to ask yourself is this: “am I focusing on how far away I am from my goals, or am I focusing on recommitting to myself and the importance of my goals?”
Check into how you feel when you ask those questions.  Focusing on the negative can feel burdensome and less than motivating, while recommitting to what you want to achieve is energizing and life-giving!  The only thing that is different is how you’ve chosen to frame what you focus on. 

So what is it that you desire to create in the months to come? 
Is drinking more water, participating in a walking or fitness program, or eating more nutritiously part of the plan?  What about spending more time with friends and family, taking that pottery class you’ve always wanted to take, learning to swim, learning to skate, or starting the book you’ve always wanted to write?  Perhaps what you really want to do is slow down, say “no” more often and do more things that make your heart sing. Whatever it is that you feel will enhance your life, notice how you frame it, in other words, where is your focus. Is it a “should” and a “have to”, or is it a choice and a desire? 

I tend to believe it is not what you do, but how you do it that matters most.  It is not even what you choose to do, but how you come to choose it that determines how you feel.  You have been blessed with the powerful gift of being able to choose where you put your focus. 

As I allowed myself to start with blowing bubbles in the water…I focused on the baby steps in front of me, not how far I had to go, or how uncomfortable it felt to be a beginner, and the results I must admit were phenomenal! 

Your mission should you be willing to accept it: For the next 30 days, notice when you focus on framing your choices in a positive light, how much more motivated you feel to act in accordance with your goals.  I’d love to hear how that goes for you…share your thoughts at embracingchange@live.com with FOCUS in the subject line.

Until next time,
Here’s to living more consciously…

Carpe diem! ~ Seize the Day!

Lyndsay

Lyndsay Blais, creator and facilitator of the Embracing Change Program; Assisting Individuals through Career and Life Transitions.  Contact Lyndsay in Penticton, B.C. 250-809-5399; via email

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