The Utility of Focus

When I was in grade school, we had “picture studies” which I loved. It resolved another need of mind to use words creatively. Well, we are doing something similar with the “word study”. How often do we parcel out one word we may use repeatedly during a day and really study what it means"? Today, the word is “focus”.

How many times we say to our child when trying to teach them skills, “Johnny, focus on what I’m saying so you can do it.” A teacher in a classroom of rowdy 2nd graders says, “I need you to focus on the addition facts on the board and repeat them with me.”

Now it’s the adult’s turn to focus or put attention to. You want to get a lot done on your day off when there are fewer parameters around you like there are at work. I sat up in bed after waking the other morning and my head started spinning and, in that moment, I realized my day off from work would slip through my fingers quickly unless I “focused” on specific things I wanted to accomplish. I grabbed a small pad which I keep by my bed and before my feet hit the floor, I’d outlined 5 tasks I needed to do at my desk; 2 things I needed to do in my bedroom and 1 thing in my kitchen.

My focused list kept me on track even though an unexpected task came up during the day that I needed to do. I still completed 90% of what was on that focus generating action I took by making a list. Maybe your focus trigger is digitally created, doesn’t matter because different actions work for different people. The point is to best focus on the day’s tasks, it needs to be written down in some form, a day timer that you are in the habit of carrying with you everywhere or a pad of some sort or any number of digital reminders.

Practice focus this week until it becomes a habit for you, maybe your children will then see the act of focus in action, your action and start practicing it.

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Chapter 1 — Your Empowering Influence Has Miles Yet to Travel

(The Case Against Surrender, Excerpt 2)

“……. Today we are talking about an empowering influence that moves boulders out of the pathway and jumps through hoops usually out of reach, not an influence that is like a sinking fund to all those around you. How do you develop an empowering influence that lifts others up rather than flatlines those in our immediate universe. By believing in the person you have become because of the trials and tribulations you’ve persisted through and came out the other side stronger than before.

“We develop an empowering influence by believing in ourselves no matter how those around us say we’re only mediocre. Our influence can empower others because we have been willing to walk through rising waters, raging fires of betrayal and the hurricanes of doubt that have attempted to sweep us away. But we are still standing; we have not surrendered and will not surrendered and that is what develops that influence that can empower everyone we come in contact with.

“We do not ever ask for the troubles and trials and losses of Job in the Bible, but we are willing to be strong through them because we are called to do so when we are following the markers in the case against surrender. These markers lead us to walk out the other side with a strength of spirit, a determination of mind and a willingness to never surrender, never. That is empowerment and that is what we spread from here to kingdom come to every soul that you meet, mile-after-mile-after-mile….

“The case against surrender expounds on the truth that all our miles are not yet travelled because there is someone 100 miles up the road who has lost heart and can scarcely put one foot in front of the other. Our empowering influence must survive the intervening miles because that person down the road needs to be empowered, and you are the one who’s going to make a difference so there is no surrender in our future….”