A word about... um, what was I saying?... oh yeah, FOCUS!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

A word about... um, what was I saying?... oh yeah, FOCUS!

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A very successful man once wrote: "... not that I have already obtained (perfection), or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on... one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal..." Some of you are ahead of me. That's a partial quote of the Apostle Paul in a very personal letter he wrote to a church. But you don't have to be religious, Christian or whatever to extract meaning from those words. (I do believe the true meaning however, is deeply spiritual).

Catch the momentum: I'm not there yet...but my focus is intense... nothing will distract me - good, bad or indifferent - MY EYES ARE ON THE PRIZE... And I'm moving that way! That is FOCUS! That is the power of a compelling vision. And remember it is this kind of Focused Compelling Vision (see what I did there?) that empowers us to live out of our imagination instead of our memory.

Focus sets Direction... and Direction determines Destination. More on this later as we talk about the Principle of the Path (something I borrowed from a preacher named Andy Stanley).

I learned to snowboard after skiing for many years. Feet claustrophobically bound together on this plank, standing at the top of the (very small) hill. The instructor told us that when we want to turn, first look where we want to go. Then point where we want to go. And Commit to it. "You will go there," he said. It sounded too simple... look, point, commit. The bruises proved that although it was simple in concept, it was painfully difficult in execution!

But isn't that the point? Isn't that why we need to continually focus on a compelling vision that radically motivates? Each of us has been bruised up. Ego bruises. Heart bruises. Career bruises. Relationship bruises. Dead and dying dreams get shelved away in some dank corner only to be pulled out and unwrapped for the sake of reminiscing and a renewed sense of self-doubt. Wow, depressing... I need to right a country song about that! But pretty true - right? Or am I alone?

So what does it take to keep a dream alive? First, and here's a "duh" moment, it takes the right dream. This is the clear and compelling (inner) vision. It is more than a want, more than a "wouldn't it be nice if..." This is that thing that captures the mind and captivates the heart. There can be many facets, many streams, but they must all run in the same direction and tie in to the current of THE VISION. Only you can determine what it is for you. A parent can't, an education can't, a religion can't. It must burst up within; or, if you are like me, it slowly nags it's way into your consciousness and just won't go away. This vision must be identified, articulated, embraced, questioned and fostered.

As I've written in previous posts, Fit50! began as a fitness target for my 50th birthday. And I will be updating the fitness aspect of my journey shortly. However Fit50! quickly morphed into more... into something bigger. It has and is becoming a Compelling Vision that encompasses every area of my life and will drive through this 50th year and beyond. In other words, what began as a challenge with next Tuesday (YEP!) being the finish line has changed. I now view 50 as my new STARTING LINE! And I'm freaking excited about it!

Next time: Motivation... Movement... Momentum...