Life Training Teaches us Having a Sharp Mind Allows us to be Focused on the Prize

I am keenly interested in reading many articles to continually be informed and formulate ideas concerning life training, life skills, leadership training, skill building, personal good and mentoring training. Basically it’s all about life business to say the least, but also as a means to truly acknowledge my personal mission that is to assess “what is my worth?”

 An ophthalmologist once quoted that there were more nearsighted people in New York City than in any other cities. His logic behind this was that people were among the skyscrapers, boxed in by the walls of high sky scrapers, which in turn limited their field of vision. 

For some of these people, the only opportunity for a distant vision was to look up at the skyline, unfortunately few people in New York ever did. Thus, he said, the constant use of the eyes for short distances causes nearsightedness and dissatisfaction. I'm not a medical expert, so I cannot attest to the validity of this claim, but I do see a logic counterpart here: Our eyes can be so focused on the “immediate” on the short term benefits that we lose sight of the “ultimate” goal. Another idea I had been... “When your outlook is bad ... try the up look”! You’ll sure have better perspective.

 Our eyes only see what our minds and hearts point them toward, blurring what we really need to see and realize. 

Some see one thing. Someone else sees something else.  Who is right! What we perceive is far more than an image.  We perceive what we observe!  Our perceptions and preconceived filters determine how we interpret the observation.  If we are looking through eyes of faith, we’ll see what God sees!  He sees the big picture, but always aspire that we avoid being prejudice.

 We should try seeing through the looking glass of faith. So is love. So is joy. When we see life through faith-filled, loving, joyful eyes, the whole world looks different. It will change your perspective in to a more fulfilling and ultimately leads to the completion of your main goals. 

The difference between the size of the sun and the size of a quarter is a difference of a few millimeters and millions of miles. Yet, we can hold that tiny quarter so close to our eyes that we cannot see the sun.

 It is the same with our problems. The blessings of life are so much greater than any problem we'll ever face! But if we are not careful we can look so closely at our problems that we allow them to block our vision of our blessings. As a mentor, what I can advice is “Always look on the bright side, never take on a task solely for the purpose of compensation but do it in order to help others.”

 We need to stay focused! And, not only with our eyes but with our hearts must stay focused.  Our minds must stay focused.  Our lives must stay focused!  It should have a synergy with our entire being. Thus only then our “vision” for the future will become clear.  Doubt will leave! Faith will appear.  Stay focused on your personal mission! 

We can only move in one direction ... and that is the direction of our most dominant current thought.

 Let me ask you a question.  When you widen the beam of the flashlight, what happens to the strength of the beam? Exactly: the beam gets weaker, right? And a weaker beam means less light. We need to weigh in the pros and cons of these. There is always a purpose for each but what I am emphasizing is that we need intensity as opposed to variable volume. We can achieve something with precision if we narrowly focus on that particular goal.

 What happens to the strength of the beam and to the strength of the light when you narrow it down to a small spotlight?

 We all know that the strength of the beam becomes much stronger.

 Whether we like it or not our brain is a lot like that. Our brains work very much the same way. This knowledge is one of the most powerful tools available to a human being. You can focus your mind and it will give you greater light and clarity.  Now, before you think that I’m getting a little “outer limits” on you ... I want to assure you I’m not. I’ll not ask you to chant “hocus pocus get in focus” three times!

 Our mind is only being used for about 5-10 % of its potential. We get so bogged down trying to get ahead we lose sight of our ultimate goals. I’m quoting these scientifically proven facts. Yes... focus is a visual term. We often lose our focus... thus we can’t see our vision! And without a vision ...we perish!

 Let's look at what the dictionary says about focus.

  Focus ... The distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system. Or another way of saying it  ...The state of maximum distinctness or clarity of such an image: You are either in focus or out of focus.

 I am an avid videographer. I have an option in my camera that is used to adjust the focal length of an optical system in order to make an image distinct or clear.  On my camera I can use an automatic focus or a manual one.       

 In life we only have a manual focus.  And we have to readjust it for every scene we shoot. If needed be that the lighting changes we have to adjust the focus.  If the subject moves or changes we have to adjust the focus.  If we move that camera we adjust the focus. Life has so many variables that every day of our lives we must choose to focus in on that day's events.  We cannot just point and shoot.   We need to obtain clarity on what we are truly trying to achieve and focus on those goals with distinct intensity like no other.

 We are so often bombarded with options that it usually bogs us down to make a decision.  Don’t get me wrong ... multiple streams of income are good things. A diversified portfolio is a good thing.  But an undisciplined... chase every bright light that comes along mentality... is not a good thing. We must have focus! If the mind is renewed ... the body is subdued.  We have to bring our body into subjection.  In other words, the inner man must control the outer man. We are usually persuaded indefinitely by outside stimulus that we find pleasurable yet can be destructive or by whatever brings ego gratification. Ah, but Gary, are you saying mind over matter?  I’m saying that what is on your mind does matter! Or, it’s all over!

 Steadfast focus can save you from heaps of trouble, So Focus on staying focused on your personal mission to the culmination of your worth!