The Power of Focus

I am passionate about living on purpose. I have spent the last several months thinking about what this means in more depth, and rearranging my life to execute "living on purpose." I have learned several important things.


First, I learned that I am propelled by an innate need for goals and progress. Since Spring 2008, I've been dealing with some really tough family difficulties: various health problems; sitting on three pieces of real estate that haven't sold yet due to the market downturn; helping my parents with some tough situations; my dad's cancer diagnosis (from which he has been completely healed--"Thank You, Lord!"); and a lot of other things. From Fall 2009 through June 2010, I was just trying to survive. All sorts of bad things seemed to hit one after the other, and surviving was all I could do.

Somewhere along the way, I noticed that I had lost my focus. I used to be so motivated by goals, but I hadn't written a goal in months. I used to wake up excited about every day, but I was fighting the blues.

I realized that I had lost my focus. I was trying to shoulder the burden for things I can't control, and so I had no power to impact things I can control. So, I took steps to solve this problem.

First, I eliminated things and activities that are nice, but that I'm not called to do.

Second, I made a list of unfinished projects and things I need to get done. I assigned dates to get those projects done.

Then I started working off that list. Except for one thing, I've not picked up a new project in months - I've been finishing lots of old things.

This new focus - concentrating my energy on what God has called me to do, instead of expending my energy on things that seem to be good ideas - has totally turned me around. I'm actually getting things done again, getting my momentum back, overcoming and not getting discouraged.

Thank You, Lord, for the power of focus.
Jamie