Always remember, your focus determines your reality.
~ George Lucas ~
In The Phantom Menace, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn says the above to the very young Anakin Skywalker.
In the mythical storytelling world of Star Wars, the force plays a prominent role in the goings on of various characters. The primary purpose of the light side of the force was to protect, persuade and provide great physical feats when necessary. The dark side, however, used the force for nefarious reasons which brought about characters such as Darth Vader and all the havoc he caused in the Universe.
Either way, the force was a form of extreme focus on getting something done. By laser focusing on the task at hand, the results they got were usually the ones they had set the intention in the beginning for.
That is powerful.
Which is the reason I am choosing the word Focus to be my touchstone for the New Year of 2023.
With all the definitions of the word Focus, this is the one that spoke directly to me:
a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding
Our minds are exceedingly plastic and they have the amazing ability to reshape themselves.* Through the practice of self-examination and contemplation time, one can take advantage of that malleability and shape their mind to produce beneficial directions.
In other words, whatever we pay attention to, the details we pick out and give importance to, that determines the results we achieve.
Whoa!
Ok, got it … the TFAR model states: your thoughts lead to your feelings, which lead to your actions, which lead to your results … where I am struggling is the thoughts portion, which is where I need to FOCUS.
(Last thought: A state or condition PERMITTING ← did you notice that? I need to be in a state or condition that allows a clear understanding of something. This means I need to take TIME to consider what I am focusing on to make sure they fit with my ultimate goals. Which means I have to take TIME to consider what my ultimate goals are. HA! Round and round I go. Which proves why this is the perfect word for me for 2023!)
*If you want a trippy read, get a hold of the book “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge, M.D. … fantastic look into how we can actually change the structure and function of our brains.