How to Fine Tune your Focus

An old motorcycle racer once described to me what he called the fifth harmonic. I, of course, listened patiently eager to know what this fifth harmonic really is or if it's even real at all. He told me the first harmonic is the motorcycle itself, the second, the rider, the third the road, the fourth is a balance of the three. Well, I didn't know if this was a zen-to-anything so I asked him if the fourth was really the most important one since it pretty much sums up the three elements of you, your ride, and the road. So he says to me the fifth harmonic is your sense of focus, your intuition, your ability to read ahead and make changes accordingly BEFORE anything bad happens. It is this realm of finer tuning which some people call "maintaining the edge". As I was sitting there listening passively to this old timer reflecting back on days of yore it suddenly dawned on me that all his concepts of harmonics this and harmonics that is really LIFE in general.

So is achieving a deeper sense of focus the secret to harmonizing all aspects of your life? in a sense, yes. Absolutely. By honing your awareness you also hone your perception and in the process you can see the "bigger picture" and not just the big one. The question then becomes how do we focus more in our daily living? To say it plainly, how do we train ourselves to develop a keener sense of awareness? We ought to observe more and we ought to listen more, and I hate to say this, but we also have to train our memory. As we age so does our neurons and we can improve our memory by doing memory exercises. Crossword puzzles, sudoku,chess, and other memory enhancing games can greatly improve your memory.

Improving your focus in life, however, is more than just merely heightening your sense of awareness, your adeptness to listening, and even improving your memory. You need healthy relationships, a positive outlook, and an open mind. Peg the following in your mind:

"I am working to focus more to achieve stability and balance in my life."

Being able to focus and see what areas in your life is more deserving of your attention allows you to recognize ALL your options or choices in plain sight and enables you to see and gauge the situation more clearly and, therefore, act more appropriately. You'll develop a presence of mind that is indeed security. Your confidence level will go up and so will your self-esteem. You'll feel better about yourself because you are working towards harmonizing all aspects of your life. Your goals will be clearer and nearer. Your planning will take on a whole new level of precision and you will be more productive all in all.

All this is possible from being able to focus a little more and be observant. If I only knew and paid more attention then what that old geek with his trusty dusty motorcycle was really telling me I would have seen and appreciated the many choices and options I hadn't even noticed before in my life. Remember to start small. Work on one area at a time and, even at that, in increments. Drastic changes are hard to assimilate and harder to adapt to.

So until our next post. Focus more. Not just on your needs mind you, but also in the needs of others. Take care of yourselves...and one another. JowelMD signing off..

Find your Own Voice

Ever wonder what dives us in life? We search for that one thing that can and will define who we really are. It can be that perfect relationship, that promotion we have been waiting for for years, or simply that one little piece of heaven we can call our happiness. The fact is it is this dire need to fulfill which keeps us going, searching, yearning. What do you think? Do you think your present state of affairs, profession, or what you just happen to be doing is your true calling in life? What if you were to contemplate for a minute that it isn't? What then?

Finding your own voice means being able to express the person that you are and appreciating yourself for it. Most of us go through life with a somewhat preconceived notion that we exist for a purpose. The truth is we go through this life being good at many things, hence we have many calling. We may do one thing well, but we may be entirely committed or passionate about another. One thing most of us don't do anymore is LISTEN to what OUR LIFE is telling us. Amidst the hubbub of everyday life we have become like automated machines, working to see a day through and not worrying about the next or the last. We have become drawn in to this rhythm that a break from it makes us anxious, and even stressed out.

Let's take for example billboards you often pass by on the freeway or ad campaigns you see on the side or even at the back of the bus. What do you think they have in common? They are asking you to try SOMETHING NEW; they are asking you to BREAK AWAY from YOUR norm; they are asking you to add some SPICE or EXCITEMENT back in your life; they are offering you a SOLUTION to a problem of yours. Get the picture? In essence they are flashing a wake up call in front of you, to remind you that you are still alive and that excitement can still be had for whatever the price they are offering. Do you really need that?

Take the time to think things through. Reassess your priorities and set realistic goals for yourself. Try to be good at what you do or may be doing now. If you end up doing something else altogether different tomorrow, well try to be good at that too. Never see people halfway, never see things halfway, never start anything only to give up halfway through, and never short change yourself. A positive outlook in life and things goes a long way. Try to see the best in any situation and in anyone. Negativity only breeds negativity. Remember that hard work develops character and a good work ethic is a life-long tool. Believe in yourself more often because some people you may not be aware of do. Practice Humility because that will take you farther in life than simply broadcasting your qualities or talents.

So, as you sit in your garden of life, find a moment to give yourself that much needed peace. Find your Own Voice and say to the world, "Here I am!". Be kind to yourself and others. Kindness is Love. Respect other people's individuality as you would want them to respect yours. Respect other peoples space and privacy too. Don't intrude unless asked to enter. It's never too late to "fine tune" your "tools" in life. Remember that.

Until our next post. Take care of yourselves and one another..thank you for your time.