Distractions

What is the #1 way to increase focus?  Remove distractions. So what are these distractions that compete for our attention? Well, that depends on the task in which we are trying to direct our focus. If I’m trying to get rest, my bed is not a distraction but watching TV or scrolling through social media are ones. Not all distractions are bad. Spending time with family or spouse, reading a book, job responsibilities, and household chores are not within themselves distractions. However, depending on the context of what needs to be focused on, they might be distractions. For example, if I have a project at work that needs to be completed, taking 30 minutes to finish reading a book is a distraction.

As an official, what distracts us? Off the field, we have job responsibilities, family to take care of, health issues, and travel issues. On the field, irate fans, upset coaches, people on the sideline, weather, the previous play, and other officials can and do distract us resulting in us losing focus.

John “Gucci” Foley, former Blue Angel pilot, challenges us to decrease our distractions by doing two things:

·         Concentrate into a single point of focus: this is where habits are formed (“unconscious competence”)

·         Adopt a “Glad to be Here” mindset: with a mindset of gratitude and gratefulness, focus is multiplied

Click on the following link for the more details by Foley on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXQNPKHarE

When life happens--frustration, anxiety, anger, multiple priorities--we get distracted. In Philippians 4: 8-9, Paul and Timothy addressed the church of Philippi and encouraged them to stay focused.  “8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” When we place focus in the right place, God provides peace, joy, and strength. All the busyness and responsibilities of life want to shake and distract us, but God says to “fix” our eyes on Him to not be shaken—to stay focused!

Feed your focus. Starve your distractions.

https://thecove.org/blog/where-is-your-focus/#:~:text=The%20Lord%20says%20that%20we,praise%2C%20think%20on%20these%20things.