Focal Points
|
As I move towards the life I want, which at different moments feels like sprinting in an open field on a cool and breezy day, or arranging books on shelves one after another after another, or sighing at the sight of a tall brick wall (which might simply topple over the moment I dare to press against it), I am fascinated by the power of directing my attention. By choosing where to focus I can put myself in a state of confidence or despair or excitement. There's that saying about how you can't escape yourself: Wherever you go, there you are. My version would change one word: Wherever you focus, there you are. The failures don't have to be anything more than interesting lore. As long as I'm participating in the conversation about my life through intentional actions, I will get feedback. What a gift! Focus is by no means a solo game. We are always communicating to others what parts of ourselves to focus on. I spent time with a group somewhat distant from my usual social circles, and I told them about one specific half of my career pursuits: the half that is most similar to their careers, that half that told them that I belong and that I won't disrupt what they have going on. But that's just a story I chose to focus on. How could I know what would happen if I were to tell them about the other half? Focusing on something as opposed to avoiding it is one way of knowing what is true. I don't have to punish myself for a truth that I would rather not be true. Instead, I can focus on it without judgment and be grateful to have a better understanding of my current reality. Right now, I am afraid of people yelling at me as a consequence of me pursuing the life I want, and that's okay. What have you been focusing on lately? What would you like to focus on more? |
@strangestloop
I stand alone on the balcony overlooking the backyard, leaning against the railing, thinking of nothing in particular. The door creaks open. "It's tiiiiiiime," my friend tells me. I walk inside towards the room where a dozen people await my arrival. Murmurs and declarations of "yes" greet me as I breach the circle. I stand at the center and am rewarded with louder yeses. I move towards someone, then someone else. Silence. Back to the center. "Yes," affirms the chorus. Okay, here. I hold my...
Hello! In the throes of a lower mood I try to remember how much I have to be grateful for, how much I have in my life that is worth celebrating. Today's newsletter is me doing that! It's remarkable how simple and effective this practice is at shifting my mood from gloom to bloom. Here is my gratitude list: Receiving appreciation for The RAMP Mindset and the dots method on a video call. Running into some new connections at a friend's birthday party. Hearing Nine In The Afternoon on the radio...
In any situation you can take a moment to notice whether you could enjoy it more - maybe a lot more or maybe a little more - and then take action to raise your enjoyment. Turning the act of noticing into a habit yields huge gains for lifetime enjoyment. This has been the message for me lately and so it is my solemn duty to pass the message on to you. Some examples: During a conversation someone asked me out of 10 how comfortable I was in my seat and I said 7. Once I was aware of this it was...