It’s difficult to be positive at the moment. Every second person you talk to has Covid, people are losing their jobs, businesses are closing. It’s cold and dry in Johannesburg. It’s wet and rainy in Cape Town. In my own home, my daughter is complaining about having to do school online, while my son is complaining that he has to physically go to school. But the more we focus our attention on the negative, the more we attract it. Because energy flows where the attention goes.
There’s a physiological and scientific reason for that.
The Reticular Activating System
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a small part of the brain that filters the things we notice. It acts as a gatekeeper and generally only allows us to take notice of things that are in sync with what we’re already aware of and focusing on.
I am sure you have already experienced it. If, for example, you have bought a new car, you suddenly notice numerous other cars of the same make and model all around you. It’s not that sales have rocketed since your purchase. They were there all along, but your Reticular Activating System is now filtering all the inputs it detects that relate to your purchase because it’s top of mind.
So, when you give attention to the negative, and dwell on the dark side, you sentence yourself to stay there. You unconsciously attract more negativity, because that is what you are concentrating on.
Focus on the goal
In order to achieve our business and personal goals, we need to become much more mindful and deliberate about every thought and action. We need to focus our attention on the positive, on an abundance mindset and on a clear goal that has purpose and meaning.
When we focus on a goal, and become obsessive about it, amazing things happen. You suddenly get insights that were previously not available to you. Suddenly, you “co-incidentally” run into people who happen to be able to help you. You stumble across resources, overhear pertinent conversations. That’s why business and executive coaching is so effective.
Having a clear goal or outcome and learning how to focus your energy on it immediately changes your behaviour, giving you the momentum you need to take small actions daily that will lead to massive results.
As we ride the third wave over the next few weeks, make a conscious effort to focus on the positive and what you want to achieve. We have another six months of the year ahead of us. What goal can you achieve in that time? Why is that goal important and meaningful? Snap out of reaction mode and become more deliberate in your thoughts and actions.
What will you focus your attention on today?
