POWER OF FOCUS

"Always remember your focus determines your reality."

Qui-Gon to Anakin,star wars episode 1

A short story about focus by Coach Al Johnson:

For weeks a lion tamer in-training had observed his teacher very carefully.He paid close attention to every move his teacher made,especially the timing.He asked many good questions and just about everything made perfect sense to him.However,one thing stood out as odd. Each time his teacher entered the lions cage he took a stool in with him and always pointed it with the legs towards the lions face.

Puzzled as to why this was,he asked yet another good question, "Teacher,why is it that you never enter the lions cage without the stool,i have watched you carefully for weeks now and i do not understand."

The teacher responded, "Yet another wise observation you have made.Pointing the four legs of the stool to the lions face causes him to try and focus on all four at once.This act tames him as it divides his focus and sends him into a state of paralysis."

This story illustrates the power of focus.As you look at your life,career,are you focused or paralyzed by a lack of focus.Through focus we can achieve great things,you can set priorities,give attention to the task ahead and deliver great results.
One of mans greatest challenges is staying focused,in a fast paced,technology driven world,we live in.But staying focused is perhaps the best way to get things done,with our lives and career.So how do we keep our eyes on the ball when its bouncing around from court to court?
How many goals are you chasing right now? " if you are chasing more than one thing,you are likely to come empty handed."
You end up all over the place without focus.A lack of focus will cause you to exact much effort and accomplish very little.
Through focus we are able to set priorities,concentrate on tasks at hand and deliver very high results.
Here are a  few ways you should focus and achieve high results;

• Focus on one thing

" I have asked one thing
 from the LORD—
 it’s all I seek—
 to live in the LORD’s house
 all the days of my life,
 seeing the LORD’s beauty
 and constantly adoring his temple." Psalms 27:4(Common English Bible)

Even David understood the power of focusing on Just One thing. "I have asked one thing from the lord-its all i seek",when you seek too many things at the same time,you will likely end up with achieving non. 

"He who chases two rabbits catches none" Confucius

Most of us are chasing a dozen rabbits at the same time and a few elephants.Multitasking is a productivity nightmare,if you will be productive you got to be focused one one thing.
How can we focus? 
Set Priorities-distinguish the important from the immediate.There will always be many things to do,but there will be the one number one thing,do that first.
In economics we call it have a scale of preference.Draw up a list according to the order of most important to less important.Focus on the most important,take it one after the order,one step at a time.
You become what you focus on,your focus becomes your reality.
All that we are,is a result of what we put our thoughts on.
No life ever grows great,until it is focused,disciplined and dedicated.
"God will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him"
What is that one thing you desire?keep your focus on it and you will achieve it.

• Write it down

Priorities not written down may never be achieved.

Get a diary or Journal and write it down.

Write down your main goal and put a deadline on your goals.The deadline gives you a sense of urgency.Everything that has a start must have an End.Its important you write it down,so you can see it and read it daily.

Write down your main goal and smaller steps that you must take daily to achieve that main goal.

Make the steps short and simple.Write at least three to five things you must do daily to achieve your goals and do them.

• Give quality time to your goals

Setting goals is not enough,but you must give quality time to working on your goals.Quality time to planning and thinking about your goals and also working to achieving it.What you give your time to,tells much about you.

Spend quality time with video or audio tapes,books and anything that will positively move you in the direction of your dreams.

The internet is such a great tool,but lots of us spend more time in chatting with people,discussing irrelevant things.Find out information,read articles and watch messages on you tube,make the most of the tool of the internet.

How much time daily,do you give to building yourself,take out quality time,time spent on developing of yourself is time spent in the bettering of your future.

• Avoid distractions

" But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:6 

 When ever i want to have my devotion,i put off my phone and shut my mind from anything else,so i can focus on God alone.This is the same attitude you must put up in life,if you are going to achieve your dreams.

"The first rule of focus is this, where ever you are,be there"

If you must achieve anything daily,you must cut yourself off from some people,turn off your phone,put off your television,put off your chat browser.Choose an environment that will encourage your focus. Create the right atmosphere for work,choose the best time,especially when everyone has gone to bed and is sleeping.
The attitude you give to your devotions,would affect your life,either positively or negatively.

• Calm your Mind

One of the biggest distractions are the thoughts racing through our minds,when we are trying to get something done.Don't listen to them,take charge and redirect your mind to the job at hand.
The environment you choose to work in affects your success,i most times like to work in a quiet environment with some beautiful slow music,i work better in such environment.
Good music helps you to concentrate and work better.
Another way to calm your mind is meditating on the right things,put your mind on things that are good and positive;

"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 about such things." Philippians 4:8

Another way to calm your mind is to Pray;

"Do not be anxious about anything,but in everything,by prayer and and petition,with thanksgiving,present your request to God."Philippians 4:6 

The prayer of thanksgiving produces results beyond your imagination.

• Exercise 

Exercise is a very powerful way to reduce stress,as endorphin's are released by the pituitary gland to block out feelings of pain or stress. Serotonin,another chemical released while exercising improves our mood and our sense of happiness.

Exercise creates energy and from experience,it helps you to prepare for the days job.It prepares you for the day mentally and physically

I worked in a firm years ago,that was into sales and promotion,we have a room in that building,were you can not come in except you are excited.We called it motivation room,very loud music and loud noise is allowed in that room,to keep us stirred for the days work,and we also practice our pitching for any product in that room before we go out to the field.

Exercise your mind also,speak to yourself,motivating words and inspiring words,wake up every morning saying loud to yourself,words that will provoke you to do something toward your goals.

Exercise is also responsible for the creation of new neurons in the brain which enable us to process and store information more easily.

"For physical training is of some value" 1Timothy 4:8a

Get that value you get from Exercise.It will profit you here and it will keep you healthy and strong so you can achieve your goals.

"We are what we think,we become what we focus our eyes on,our thoughts and desires and habits,we either ascend to the full divine dignity of our nature or we descend to suffer and learn." J. Todd Ferrier

Doubt is one of the things that breaks our focus,fear is the mother of doubts and the bible makes it clear,that a man who doubts will not receive anything from God ,James 1:6.
When we doubt we move out of position,like having a dislocation,and can't receive,because you already doubted.
The bible says believe,hold on,keep your focus,don't allow the waves of the sea make you loose focus.
When peter lost focus,when you took his eyes off Jesus and put it on the boisterous wind,he began to sink.
when we focus we can do and see the supernatural.Matthew 14:27-31.