The power of a Change of Focus


credit: rawheadrex

Recently I was contacted by Kelly Sonora from Select Courses who published an article containing 100 links on self-improvement and lifehacking. She says in introduction:

These days, it’s hard to get motivated enough for anything. The economy is down, your savings – if you had any to start with – have probably dwindled, and it’s still easy to get depressed about the housing market, the environment, foreign policy, and even the possibility of sending your kids to college.
 
But that’s exactly why we need inspiration and mood boosters at any cost. Luckily for you, these are free.

Certainly it seems she is correct in summing up the mood of many people at the moment. It’s difficult to get excited and passionate about things when other things are looming over your head, particularly when you introduce money (or the lack thereof) into the equation.

In saying this, I’m still a big believer in the concept that we are what we make of ourselves. If we don’t like our current situation, we can work hard to change things up, make things better. This might mean enduring blood, sweat and tears while we try, try and try new things, and require some thinking outside the box, but at the end of the day life really is what you make of it.

I just caught the end of a TV show when flicking the other night so am unable to credit the source, but a documentary was playing where an elderly guy was giving some advice to what I assume were his grown up sons.

He said something to the effect of:

“The earlier you focus on something that’s meaningful and fulfilling to you, the sooner you’ll become a happier individual”.

I love this statement, and what’s great about it is that this concept transcends our current worries or predicaments. Whatever situation we are in now, the sooner we change our focus on things that are meaningful and fulfilling to us, the sooner our mood (and therefore our levels of satisfaction, happiness) will improve.

As I eluded to in this article it often takes time sticking with things to see measurable results, but certainly the earlier you make a start the better.