Focus Your Energy

Do you see the rain or the calm in the distance?
Both are true, but which caught your eye?

I asked two people about a vacation they shared. The first told a story filled with disappointment, mishaps, and borderline misery. The second gave an animated story that centered on her gratitude for being able to take a vacation. Even though they were on the same trip, they gave differing accounts because their experiences were painted by their perceptions.

Life is filled with a variety of experiences. There are things we plan for, occasions we can't plan for, times for a plan b, high highs, low lows, and everything in between. We overcome hardships, create new realities for ourselves, adjust to new normals, love, laugh, lose, and learn to fully live. What differs between us is how we interpret life and live within the framework that it provides.

When I kayaked for the first time I was in Honduras. I expected gorgeous sun rays to warm my face. I expected gentle waves to lap the side of the kayak. I expected peace. What I got was a tropical deluge. What I got was drenched. What I got was a totally unexpected story, one far more enjoyable to tell and remember than what I envisioned. Just as with the kayaking experience, I could focus on the times when I expected sunshine, peace, and ease yet received cloudiness, downpours, and hard work. Instead, I prefer to focus my energy on being grateful, strengthened, and learning to use wisdom.

Listen to your conversation. Reflect on your thoughts. Do you focus your attention on the mishaps, delays, downpours, and disappointments? Or do you share and remember the beauty, the time spent with those you love, the outcomes that were better than you expected, and appreciate that you are able to influence the quality of your life?

You already use energy, whether purposefully or not, to interpret your life and what happens in it. Why not use that energy to your benefit? Why not use that energy to live better? This does not equate to being delusional or irresponsible with your reality. Life does deliver difficulty. However, the way that you cope with hardship and express gratitude for fortune is greatly impacted by how you focus your energy. Invest in yourself and the quality of your life by taking the time to be more purposeful in focusing your thoughts.

Read last week's post, Give Back the Burden.

Stand Firm

Athletes, actors, and entertainers live in the glow and heat of the spotlight. When they make a decision, whether it pertains to their career or not, there is a public reaction. If they succeed or fail, there is a spike in conversation on television, the radio, and online. Although the majority of us will never live with such an intense level of scrutiny, watching the fallout that celebrities face can serve to remind us of our need to stand firm when pursuing our dreams.

In order to live the life you seek, it is vital for you to keep your lifelong goals in the forefront of your mind. When you remain focused on your goals it increases the likelihood that you’ll make purposeful decisions. Maintaining focus will also decrease the likelihood that you will allow setbacks or critical comments to throw you off course. Equally important, if you focus on what you are working towards, you will not become complacent because some are enamored with everything you do. Sometimes you can be surrounded by so many well wishes that you start believing your own hype. Just as negative comments shouldn’t deter you, encouragement shouldn’t lessen your productivity.

Failure to stand firm can result in a shift in your behavior due to both criticism and compliments. Words of others cannot negatively impact your level of commitment or dedication. Whether people shout their doubts or sing your praises, stand firm in your pursuit. Glean only the useful information from what others believe about you and most importantly, stand firm in what you believe about yourself.