Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Hi friend, this is Dr. Apurv Mehra. Today, let’s talk about something that can shape your future, determine your success, and turn your dreams into reality: focus.
In the world of distraction, the skill of concentration is becoming rare, and it’s the one characteristic that distinguishes achievers from dreamers. Whether you’re pursuing a personal ambition, building a career, or just wanting to become the best version of yourself, concentration is the force that propels you forward.
Perhaps Your Reality Is the One You’re Focusing On
George Lucas once said, “Your focus determines your reality.” And it could not be more true. Let me explain it with a very simple example.
You can put yourself inside a very dark room. You switch on a spotlight — and suddenly, whatever falls inside this very narrow beam of light becomes visible, whereas the rest remains in the shadows. Now, if you deliberately point that spotlight toward a single image on the wall, that’s all a person will see when entering the room. That’s focus — filtering out the noise and highlighting what’s important.
The Zen Master’s Lesson on Focus
A Zen master once taught a power of focus to his students. First, he blindfolded them and asked them to shoot arrows toward a target. The students are trained — skilled archers. But none could hit the target.
Now, why? Because they could not see the target.
“The master said,’ Unless you know where you want to strike, how will you ever hit the goal?”
The clear vision focus. Where to aim it. Without it, even the most talented people miss their shots.
Mastering: What Focuses on and What Cuts Out
Mastering how to focus comes in two parts:
- What you want to do
- Cut out what stops you from doing it
Intend to be an orthopedic surgeon, then focus your attention on reading, watching live surgeries, and practicing with the bench-trained experts in some time learning how to perform the most advanced procedures like robotic or navigational surgeries.
You don’t simply wake up one day, and all of a sudden become an expert. It simply does not work that way – not for our seniors, not for me, and it certainly won’t for you.
Along with this, there would be distractions – birthday parties, family events, financial stresses, and even personal tragedies. The journey to success, however, involves learning to rise above it all.
Conclusion: Guard Your Inner World
Distraction is not only outside; the internal distractions are often the most potent and uncontrolled thoughts bouncing around your mind that might kill your productivity faster than anything else.
Winners do not only control their environment; they own and control their inner world. They have a positive environment around them. They have their boundaries set for themselves. And above all, they protect their inner world from others hovering over it.
Focus is not a one-time effort. It’s a habit, a lifestyle.
