‘We only see what we are aiming for’ Jordan B Peterson 12 rules for life. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3.6-7
Most of the time we only use our peripheral vison, we take in only the information we need in order to achieve our everyday tasks. Anyone who drives will confirm the all too familiar feeling of, how did I get here? We can drive a car whilst thinking about a totally unrelated topic and travel from A to B without direct focus. Our Brains can operate on autopilot, and we can function relatively effectively. We can do the same in almost any situation. It is a self- preservation that can become too easy to slip into. The end result is an unfocussed, unmotivated, goalless existence where life happens to us. We are blind to the reality that surrounds us. In order to challenge this, we must first be aware of it. Then we have to be prepared to ask some uncomfortable questions. What, if anything do I focus on? What is most important to me? What one thing do I currently do in life that causes disruption for me or others? What one thing could I change? It is totally understandable to be in the position you are currently in, however, it is also completely changeable. One small change today sets the scene for another change in a week’s time, change becomes a habit and so does setting goals. Our vision is lifted, we have a focus. My daughter recently moved schools; she observed how people reacted entirely differently towards her when she announced she was leaving. It was so noticeable that it made her question why she decided to leave in the first place. The context determines our view. If she had not decided to leave, she would not have seen her situation in the same light. Whilst walking my dog, I was thinking of how we only use part of our vision, I turned back to walk home and noticed something that I had just walked past, no more than ten seconds previously, and had completely missed. I had walked underneath a blackthorn tree that was full of white blossom. It also had large clumps of blossom on the floor that had been knocked off by the recent heavy rainfall. The reason I noticed it was that my Aunt had said the day before, that the heavy rain would spoil the blossom. I took time to notice the delicate flower and the emerging leaves. Up until that point I didn’t even know the tree existed, I was blind to it, despite having to duck underneath its branches seconds before. The power of focus! I listened to a man who said he does five things every day. Initially I thought, so what, 5 things, we make hundreds of decisions each day. But how many are deliberate and daily? Try it! Try doing one. One thing everyday for the next year. The reality is we don’t do the things we know we should. I bet you could list at least five things that need and could be done tomorrow if you set your mind to it. I also bet they are things that have been put off for some time. Get one of them done now, and one tomorrow.