We’re a determined species. We see something and we charge full steam ahead. Maybe it’s how we’re wired or how we’re trained from an early age to Seek. Conquer. Seek some more. But in this world of ‘shiny objects’ that are in constant competition for our attention, it’s hard to stay focused on whatever it is we’re pursuing at the time. Here’s an exercise that might help you hone in on your determination and ramp up your personal power.
If you were curating an art show, you wouldn’t include every work by that artist. Instead, you’d either look at the body of work thematically or highlight a period in the artist’s life. You can take a similar approach to what you focus on each day and how you’re going to infuse your determination. You need to be selective so you don’t dilute your power.
Pick a theme in your life, then structure a day, a week, a month on just that theme. I realize that so many of us have jobs that take our attention, so carve out a certain amount of time on a daily basis, turn off your phone and your email, and just focus on that theme.
Treat your life like you’re on a vacation. We can’t see (or do) everything in a new place, so we research and curate how we spend our time. If you approach your life like you’re on a vacation, you’ll most likely prioritize with the most desirable things.
Go in order of importance. You can give yourself an organized chronology based on how essential a task is and how much you’d like to do it. I find that I compartmentalize the tasks that I dislike the most (bills, etc.) and then reward myself after I’ve completed the task.
Stop writing a ‘To Do’ list and just live your life. You can have your ‘To Do’ days, but make sure that you unchain yourself from a task-oriented life and carve out some time to just enjoy doing whatever you really want to do. If you were curating an art show, you’d pick the most engaging and inspiring pieces. Do the same with your life. Do what makes you feel alive.
