Looking at the topic of FOCUS.
Over the next four weeks, Monday meditations will be looking at the topic of FOCUS.
As I work with leaders from many different industries there is one topic that seems to rise to the top as a problem, challenge and enigma. And that topic seems to land on the idea of having more focus.
You might be thinking this topic is about time management, and it is, however, I’m hoping to propose ideas that might be a bit different than what we would normally consider.
So let’s get started…
When you think about time management and productivity, what is the biggest challenge most of us face?
Too much to do.
Big hopes and dreams with limited knowledge.
Not enough time to do everything.
The need to work faster and harder.
Although influenced by nature “time” is a man-made idea. In fact, Egyptian mathematicians (around 1500 BC) started tracking time by the cycles of day and night. They were the first society to ascribe to the physical nature of time and their desire to capture and manage it eventually led them to create the sundial.
This eventually gave birth to the idea of creating a concept of time that wasn’t particularly based on the rising and setting of the sun. Innovative thinking led to the creation of sandglasses, waterclocks, and candles. Of course, these methods weren’t very accurate and continually needed adjusting.
MAA.org, in the article ”Devlin’s Angle”, suggests that a Christian sect created a discipline (FOCUS) revolving around the concept of time. The articles states:
For most of history, ordinary people did not have regular and easy access to any kind of time-measuring device whatsoever, other than to glance at the sky on a sunny day and see where the sun was. For them, time as we understand it today did not really exist. The one group in medieval times whose day was ruled by time in a way not unlike people today were the Benedictine monks, with their ecclesiastically regulated prayer times, the eight Canonical Hours: lauds (just before daybreak), prime (just after daybreak), terce (third hour), sext (sixth hour), nones (ninth hour), vespers (eleventh hour), compline (after sunset), and matins (during the night). The signal that announced each canonical hour and regulated the monks' day was a ringing bell. This gives us our word "clock," which comes from the medieval Latin word for bell, clocca.
Perhaps it was at this point humans began to look at the idea of time through a psychological lens. We began to treat time as something personal and manageable through lifestyle and activity. This would eventually lead to the ideas of “productive time” and “wasted time”.
Q: How do you manage time? What concepts do you practice to stay productive?
Time is a resource that we all have equal amounts of. It’s a resource that we use to sometimes take and give. Time is something we can invest. Time is valuable and requires our energy for it to be used wisely.
One thing we know about time is this…when it’s gone, it’s gone forever. In order for time to have the most value to us, and for it to have high-value, we need to apply FOCUS.
In this sense, FOCUS is the ability to look or think deeply about a singular thought or idea for a long period. Focus helps us build quality into whatever is getting our undivided attention. Focusing too much on one particular thing can have adverse affects, especially as we strive to live a balanced life.
The enemy of focus is DISTRACTION.
One of the biggest sources of distraction for many of us can be found in our pocket - our cell phone. This media device has the attraction of being incredibly helpful when used as a data manager and time tool. However, it has evolved to become a device meant for escape and pleasure with an abundance of pings, pop-ups and notifications that often takes us away from what we truly need to be doing.
Distraction keeps us from going deep. It keeps us in the “shallow-zone”. That’s why removing distractions is often the first step in helping us create an environment that will allow us to focus deeply for a while.
Q: For you, what are you main sources of distraction? Are you managing them or are they managing you?
As Christians, I believe we are called to a higher purpose. We are called to be light to the world and to point others toward God. (See Matthew 5:16) How can we do that effectively if we are constantly distracted by worldly things?
We all know the story of Jesus as he visited the home of Mary and Martha. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his words while Martha prepared the food. One of them was focusing on building relationship with God’s Son while the other was distracted by the task that was seemingly more important. One was doing something of high-value while the other was doing something of lesser value. You can read about the incident in Luke 10:38-42.
Here are a few additional verses that might help us see the topic of FOCUS a bit more clearly:
Psalm 46:10 (NLT) says, “Be still and know that I am God…”
There’s no way to build a close relationship with God when we are distracted. Being still means that we quietly focus on Him and what He is wanting to say to us. Just as Mary did in the example above.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
Giving our attention and focus to righteous awareness is encouraged for all of us.
Losing our Godly focus will cause us to be easily distracted and deceived by worldly ideologies.
Isaiah 50:7 (NLT) says, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will.”
Focusing on God’s will for our lives keeps us from shame. Our determination (focus) allows us to experience and receive high-value when we intentionally and diligently walk with Him.
Establishing a clear FOCUS helps us stay on the path that God has intended for us. It helps us experience higher quality for ourselves and also create and give high-value to others.
Q: In what areas of your life are you being called to have more FOCUS?
For a deeper understanding of the value of having FOCUS, watch this video series from Jon Acuff using your free RightNow Media @ Work subscription as a Corpath member. You can find the series here:
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/729786
My Prayer:
God, I praise you for your infiniteness. You are aware of all things. I ask that you go before me, above me, below me, behind me, and beside me in all of my steps. Guide me with your Holy Spirit. May I be humble in my successes and confident in my hopes. Amen.
Blessings as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
