By Adam Smith
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” Alexander Graham Bell
How To Focus On One Thing To Be Successful
Have you ever been working out and you just want to give up because it’s so painful? I think the answer will be a resounding yes.
Whenever I am doing something challenging or uncomfortable my mind wonders to the future. It starts imagining how long this pain is going to last for, then quickly zaps away my focus. It falsely predicts an endless never-ending struggle and lets me know I should just give up. What my brain is really telling me is to find a way to be more comfortable. This is an option I can not and will not accept.
The Mind Games The Brain Plays
On our Creating Discomfort journey, I found a great way to stay focussed and that’s focussing on the present. It can be easy to look back at past experiences of how difficult something is. Likewise when imagining the pain of the future. When it comes to something challenging. Your mind will always try and make excuses to you why you shouldn’t do anything.
The main reason for this is that your mind is trying to protect you from danger but what this feeling doesn’t realise is that we are not living in the wild any more. We are living in the 21st century where what it perceives as being dangerous is not the case. Of course, we need this feeling but we need to learn to take control of it when we need to.
The One More To Go Strategy
That’s why whenever we do anything challenging and our mind wants to give up. I say just one more to go! From there the brain is then happy to know it’s coming to an end. This keeps the mind focussed and because humans have the power to control our thoughts. I just repeat it again and again to receive the same benefits.
This worked so well whenever I did Yoga or any form of exercise like reps or running. Then I thought how else can I focus the one more to go strategy.
Here’s what I found,
Focus On 1 Goal At A Time
When it comes to goal setting or completing my to-do list it can feel never-ending. The thought of it has caused procrastination where nothing actually gets done.
Procrastination formed because I looked at the list in its entirety. It was like a big weight I had to carry all at once. When I applied the one more to go strategy it massively helped. My focus was transformed and instead of thinking about all 10 goals. I just focussed on the 1 major goal first. I did my to-do list way faster than I have ever done before and felt great every time I approached just 1 goal at a time.
When humans have multiple choices to make the brain can feel fuzzled and not make any decision at all. It can feel like a brain overload. So when it comes to any goal you want to achieve, focus on 1 goal at a time.
Focus On The Person In Front Of You
You can apply this strategy anywhere. Over the past 10 years, the rise in mobile phones has skyrocketed and everyone has one. This can at times be a very distracting tool, especially when building real-life relationships.
Have you ever spoken to someone you’re trying to have a serious conversation with and their half-listening to you and half on their phone? It comes across as rude and they don’t care about what you have to say. This may not be the case for them but that’s how it looks.
That’s why to build a lasting and strong relationship with someone. When you’re communicating with them you should give them your full focus. This helps you to understand all points discussed so there’s no confusion. Also, it creates respect between each person which allows the relationship to flourish to new heights.
Final Thoughts
Through studying how to get more done in my day. I learned when we focus on one thing at a time, that’s where real progress happens. It helps you stay present and in the moment of living your life to the fullest. Most importantly it allows you to get things done.
Now it’s over to you. Where in your life are there difficulties? The places where your mind wants to give up far too easily. Find out what they are and acknowledge them. Then use the one more to go strategy and see yourself go further than you ever thought possible. Always remember that the brain is a muscle and with the right focus. It can achieve wonders.
“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfilment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.”
Jack Canfield
FUTURE MINDSET
At Future Mindset, we are here to push the boundaries of our thoughts and actions. By chasing discomfort in our lives, it can lead us to unlock things inside us we never knew was there. Let’s change our mindset to change our future.
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Thank you so much for your support and would love to discuss any comments on this post.
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Chase discomfort and have a great day wherever you are!
