In these days of downsizing, social networking, high speed connections and multi-tasking, it has become more and more difficult to focus on just the task at hand. We all seem to have more to do but less time in which to do it. This creates a situation where we have many balls in the air as we juggle work, family and personal agendas.
I had a boss a few years back who had a tough time focusing during phone conversations. As he listened (or attempted to anyway) on speakerphone, I would run through my laundry list of items that required his input or approval. As I spoke, I would hear him pounding away on a keyboard trying to keep up with his seemingly endless flow of emails while simultaneously giving me his undivided attention. Yeah, right!
As I would speak he would repeatedly say, "uh huh, uh huh, uh huh," as some sort of mantra to let me know he was listening. I knew his focus was not on me and my issues at all. In fact, there were a few times where I mentioned having a tasty turkey sandwich for lunch to which he replied, "uh, huh, uh huh," just as he had when I let him know our biggest customer threatened to stop doing business.
Though I had a few laughs at his expense, it was frustrating and annoying because I knew that I would either have to go through most of the issues again or I would have to deal with his temper once he realized I had made a decision that he didn't necessarily like. I assured him that I had gotten the required "uh huh" as verbal confirmation before moving forward but he often denied giving his consent.
I am sure that my wife and kids would say the same about my fragmented focus while I was supposed to be enjoying their company. With my blackberry in hand, I would be on a family getaway or even sitting on the floor in my sons room playing a board game. Instead of giving my full attention I would be on a call or answering an email and half heartedly taking my turn with the dice.
In reading Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepok Chopra there was a line that stopped me in my tracks about 9 years ago. He said that it was critical to live in the moment to get the most from life. The way he stated it was, "wherever you are, be there." Since the time of reading this and more recently reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, I have worked very hard (as it is not easy) to keep my attention focused in the present moment.
The reality is that we have but one moment to live; the current one. If we give our all to the task at hand, the conversation underway or the project in progress, we will do better work, show greater respect for the person we are with and likely improve our relationships and results because of it.
The same is true with our thought life. It is easy to allow our thoughts to focus too much on our past accomplishments or become too passionate about setting goals for the days ahead. Our tendency can be to yearn for the "good ole days" or daydream endlessly about the future and fulfilling our "must have" list of desires. Some people feel that their best days are behind them and some feel their best days will arrive once they get the dream job, dream house, dream mate, dream car, etc.
This is not to say we should never reflect on the past or make plans and goals for the future. These are critical to our success and should get our full attention when we are in our time of reflection or planning. I assure you that if you can put all your energy in the present moment, you will draw the necessary wisdom from the past and set the table for an amazing future. I sum it up as follows:
If your passion lies only in past accomplishments, it will die a little each day.
If your passion lies only in future goals, it will never fully live.
If your passion lies in the present moment, it will burn in a life of abundance and fulfillment.
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