Have you ever noticed that when you focus on something negative, it tends to become bigger and more overwhelming? It lives rent-free in your mind until it either happens or you give up because it grows paralyzingly uncomfortable, and the negative thoughts, unbearable.
We often focus on the negative aspects of a situation and worry about the worst outcomes. This causes our thoughts, emotions, and actions to revolve around avoiding these negative things.
We all do it, it comes all too naturally for most of us.
But that is precisely the wrong way.
The right way?
Use positive focus to help you unleash your potential on the world.
Where Your Focus Goes, Your Energy Flows
Where your focus goes, your energy flows
~Jim Rone
You may have heard the phrase above before — it’s a favorite of Tony Robbins.
His real-life analogy goes something like this: When Tony was training for Nascar, his coach told him that when in an uncontrolled spin-out, inexperienced drivers always hit the wall.
The reason?
Most drivers focus on the wall, or where they don’t want to go.
And where their focus goes, their energy flows.
So by focusing on the wall, that’s precisely where they end up.
And in life, this is what most of us do, all the time.
Okay then, so what’s the driver supposed to do?
Focus on the track, or where they DO want to end up. When Tony got into a spinout situation, he remembered his training, focused on the track, and got out of his uncontrolled spin.
That, my good friends, is a life lesson we all need to understand, learn, and remember every day.
In every life situation, big or small, focus on what you DO want rather than what you don’t.
Your Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
By focusing on the potential worst outcomes in any situation…
- I’m going to lose all the money I’ve invested in starting my own business.
- I’m going to bomb this interview for my dream job, and I’ll never have another chance.
- Why should I even talk to her? There’s no way she is into a person like me, she’ll just laugh.
We fill ourselves with an impending sense of doom, which ultimately leads to self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and fear.
And you inadvertently create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
By focusing on the negative outcomes, you are willing them to happen.
But, if you focus on the positive, those outcomes are much more likely to happen.
It spikes your confidence, your motivation, and much more (check out our follow-up article to this for more reasons focusing on the positive works).
And like a NASCAR driver, you may spin out, but if you are able to focus on the track, your odds of straightening out increase ten-fold.
It reminds me a lot of failure — successful people don’t see failure negatively, they see it as a necessary learning experience on the path to success.
Just like in life, if you’re focused on the positive of what you want, you may spin out, but you’ll get back on track and keep moving forward.
Happily and motivated.
By shifting your focus towards what you DO want, rather than what you don’t, you can unlock a world of positive possibilities.
Create a Positive Focus Habit
The next time you have a goal in mind (big or small), remember to avoid negative thinking and instead focus on the positive outcomes.
Much like positive visualization, the value you’ll see in your life from creating this habit is massive.
Remember:
Where your focus goes, your energy flows
And check back next week for a follow-up blog post on the positives you can unlock in your life by focusing on the right things.