> “Focus” is the practice of concentrating our energy within a small space, so we can have a greater impact within that space. But focus is much easier said than done. Why?
For me, there are two main failure modes:
DISTRACTION: Impulses to do things that are not within the area I have chosen—or been assigned—to focus on.
DISINTEREST: Sometimes there is just nothing attractive about my area of focus. It’s not that I have an urge to do something else, it’s just that I’ve lost interest. Sometimes this is temporary burnout, but other times it’s a sign of something deeper.
Based on these two failure modes, it would seem that the central challenge of increasing focus is:
1. To avoid temptations
2. To do the things we’re supposed to, even when we don’t want to
You can find a lot of bravado and motivational speeches online (especially on YouTube) about willpower and discipline. These have their place, but, for me, focus is not primarily about willpower.
Instead, when I’m struggling with focus, I have found it more helpful to take a step back and ask one simple question:
Why?