Donald Wickham’s Blog

Earlier this week I was listening to a teleseminar given by Gina Mollicone-Long.  She gave two great illustrations on the power of focus.

Focus Expansion/Tunnel Vision

A little exercise to show this one.  First, look around the room you are in looking for anything red.  Pay close attention to where each is.  Got them?  Now close your eyes.  Got them closed?  Now, where are all the blue items?  Didn’t notice them very much, did you since you were “focused” on all things red.

This exercise demonstrates how powerful our ability to focus is.  We see what we looking for.  If we are looking for the positive, we find it.  If for things that are broken or wrong, that is what we find.  This power of focus brought to mind the Bible verse, Philippians 4.8  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think (focus) about such things.”  I added focus.

Focusing Forward or Backward

To illustrate this Gina used losing weight as an example.  Let’s say that your current weight is 180 and you want to be at 140.  As you start your weight loss program you are highly motivated because 180 is so high above your target of 140.

Focusing backward:  As you begin to fall below 180 you see how far you have dropped.  Although you can celebrate your losses (focusing backward to where you started), the more you lose the less motivated you are.

Focusing forward:  For this you look at where you want to be.  You started with a need to lose 40 pounds. As you weight drops you are getting closer and closer to 140.  Again you celebrate but you are celebrating the reduction of the 40 to smaller and smaller amount.  Because you are getting closer and closer and the amount to lose is smaller and smaller, it motivates you to keep going, in fact the motivation increases.

Although her example was weight loss, it applies to any goals we have.  First we need to really accept were we are today.  No condemnation, guilt or blame.  What is is what is.  Set a realistic measureable goal.  Then focus on achieving the goal and celebrate (focus) on each step closer to it.  Paul says, in Philippians 3.13-1 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead (focusing forward), I press on (focus) toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

This year, by God’s grace, I will turn around (what repent means by the way) and focus on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.  I will be looking for what God is up to in my life and those around me recognizing that Father God is working for my very best and the best of all.

Tags:   excellent · focus · focusing backward · focusing forward · grace · lovely admirable · noble · positive · power of focus · praiseworthy · pure · right · trueNo Comments