2. THE POWER OF FOCUS

FOCUS by definition is to give attention or effort to one particular subject, situation or person rather than another. We live in a world that has a lot of things demanding our attention; vices that dictate how youths are to live, peer pressure, expectations from family and friends, personal standards, tastes or preferences, passion and purpose; with all this as causes to numerous turns of events- what’s a person stuck in between the thin line separating the aforementioned chaos and order to do? What’s the beauty in tunnel vision? Does the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited object bear results?

Always remember that your focus determines your reality, if you wake up in the morning and the first things you choose to think about are the miserable endeavours you need to do later in the day, you’ll end up having a miserable day, conversely, if you focus instead on what a wonderful gift your life is, chances are you will have a great day; having your attention jump from one thing to another leads into a busy, fractured and unproductive life.

ALL THAT WE ARE IS A PRODUCT OF WHAT WE HAVE THOUGHT. We are what we think; as we desire so do we become! By thoughts, desires, and habits, we either ascend to the full divine dignity of our nature or we descend to suffer and learn; What these few statements by Buddha and Todd Ferrier mean is that if you focus on a productive thought, you will become the thought.

IF YOU FOCUS ON THE THOUGHT. YOU WILL BECOME THE THOUGHT

 From this we can conclude that focus is the most important determination to/for any form of achievement, focus is the drive behind the formation of both bad and Good habits, focus is the ingredient for discipline, will power and reward (whether good rewards or bad). We are not prophets or seers, but a few years from now you and I will reap the fruits of the things we are focusing on, whether we like it or not; this is the power of focus.

The legendary philosopher Seneca in his book the shortness of life tells us that we should let all our activities be directed to some object (FOCUS). Let us have some end in view, it is not the industry that makes men restless but false impressions of things drive them mad. For even madmen need something to stir them (focus); the outward show of some object excites them because their deluded mind cannot detect its worthlessness. In the same way every individual among those who wander forth to swell a crowd is led round the city by empty and trivia lessons.

Focus on something ladies and gentlemen, anyone who wishes to live a life of purpose should not engage in many activities without directions.  In all the topsy-turvy successions of events, focus on a certain thing, work at improving or changing it and you will never go wrong; this is the character of all great men. Even Jesus Christ taught that we cannot serve both God and mammon, we can only focus on one and that which we focus on will have authority over our lives. 

If you asked ten successful people to share with you the secrets that led to their progress, you will often hear different accounts. Some will tell you that they were just lucky, others will tell you that they worked hard, whilst others will just make exaggerated claims of their in born brilliance. It is true that no life journey is ever the same, this is because there are many factors that lead to a person becoming a success; despite all this, there is one attribute that all successful individuals share and this is THE ABILITY TO FOCUS. Anybody can be a success and with social media anybody can be famous, but not everybody can maintain their good fortunes year after year, decade after decade and generation after generation.

Individuals of great focus are usually long-term thinkers; they are never moved by wins or losses, instead they are driven by a vision greater than themselves. They instinctively know that excellence is a never ending process and because of that awareness, they push themselves to outperform their previous successes. This desire to be always learning and to be always improving is primarily because; their focus keeps them grounded and instills in them a sense of humility as to why they shouldn’t settle for less.

People of great focus know their potential. In as much as they have an insatiable desire to learn from others, you will notice that they do not do what they do to prove a point or to compete with anyone, their focus is ever on themselves and the goals they have set. Individuals of great determination and focus are driven by the urge to always be the best version of themselves. That is why they are so hard to befriend or put up with because; what appears to be excellence to the masses is mediocrity to them.

The secret of sustaining success for a very long period of time lies in making a commitment to be focused. If you have ever come across a person that is always rising from level to level always remember that their secret is that they have made a deliberate effort of consistently working towards their goals. Success is not a mystery, success manifests because of the decision to be focused at all times.

The great ancient roman philosopher Seneca in the book “THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE,” writes;

“But the man who is not puffed up in good times does not collapse either when they change. His fortitude is already tested and he maintains a mind unconquered in the face of either condition. So I have never believed that there was any genuine good in the things which everyone prays for; what is more, I have found them empty and daubed with showy and deceptive colors, with nothing to match their appearance. It is my wish that I let my mind be fixed on itself, cultivate itself, have no external interest-nothing that seeks the approval of another, let it cherish the tranquility that has no part in public or private concerns.”