Focus: reaching our goals

There are no parts of life that focus is not needed.  It does not matter if we are playing a game or doing the specialized work of a doctor or scientist.  But in fact many of us have problems focusing on the task at hand as we think about all the other things going on in our lives.  

I would like to think for a few minutes about the things that really need our focus.  For each of us those things may be different, but I would think that it is possible that many of them may be the same.  Who would not say that focusing on our family and health are two of the most important.  Yet for many children today the average amount of time their parents spend with them alone without interruption from media and other distractions may only be 8 minutes per week.  

Our health is another area that we could all agree needs our focus.  Yet our eating habits and workout schedule may be pushed to the side due to us focusing on other matters.  So many times I have parents tell me how healthy they and their children eat, yet both parent and child are not at a healthy weight.  So what is it that you want to focus on?   What are the most important things in your life?  

One of the things that will help us focus on our ‘most important’ things is by setting goals.  With a goal that is specific and with a completion date our mind can focus to reach that goal.  General goals do not help us focus.  Specific goals however concentrate our energy on the stated goal.  

Goal setting, focus and commitment to them is something I work on all the time.  In fact I invite you to join with me in that regard.  I believe that having ‘teammates’ is an important part of keeping our focus and reaching our goals and holding us accountable.  I am here and ready to do that with anyone that wants the support.  Of course it will be a two way thing, as in any team, both of us will benefit. 

Successful goal setting

Our goals must be about us.  They cannot be about others or what we would like to see them do or accomplish.  When we know the results we want and why we want them then that is our goal.
Then we should ask ourselves if this goal is Real.  Is it possible to reach this goal?  There is a difference in setting high goals for ourselves and setting a goal that is not attainable.  I also believe that after we set a high goal that it is good to break it down into smaller chunks.  If we want to lose 40 pounds this year, maybe we break it down into 2 or 3 month increments.  Then we can see the progress we are making and get the good feeling of accomplishment.
Finally what is the time frame for reaching the goal.  is it this week or this month, year, 5 years or 10 years.  Goals are only dreams if they do not have a time table set to them.  When we have a time table we can then start setting smaller goals so we can reach our bigger milestones.
What is your goal?  Set a goal for your school, home, job or your physical training.  Let me know what it is and I will be here to help you reach that goal.  That is one of my goals this year – to help others reach their goals.