The fall days are ticking by quickly, I can’t believe that next week we embark on November and soon it will be 2018, how did that happen?! Next week I get to start my first of two new classes that will go through February. I am so excited about these classes/workshops!! It truly fills my heart and soul to journey with incredible women through limiting beliefs, patterns, and sabotage behaviors, to come home to a more loving way of being. In addition to these upcoming workshops, I continue to coach, work on my book, blog, etc… Thus, I must remind myself to prioritize, which leads me to today’s gym lesson – Focus!

As one who has oodles and oodles of ideas floating around and coming forth throughout the day, I must constantly remind myself of the powerful lesson I learned intensely as a junior high teacher, “Keep It Sweetly Simple (K.I.S.S.)!! Stay focused with intention and a clear vision for the outcome.

The gym is a place that constantly reminds me of this important lesson. That may be why I love weight lifting, for you select your muscle group(s) of focus for the day and that is the target, all energy goes to pushing that part of the body to a new level of strength. Today it is legs – my least favorite and yet these two limbs graciously carry me around everywhere. I am so blessed to have strong legs, no pain, no issues, they continue to take good care of me, the least I can do is return the favor. If I do not stay focused at the gym, I can set myself up for injury. Squatting, bench pressing, lat pulldowns, bicep curls, etc.., all can serve the body in amazing ways or if done incorrectly create great harm. Staying focused and present is imperative to proper handling of the weights, if my mind wanders I set myself up for mistakes.

I look back on my life and the times I have truly achieved above and beyond are when I focused with passionate intensity on my target/goal. In high school one of those powerful times was to be an exchange student. I didn’t care how many friends and family told me it wasn’t possible, I was going to do it. I poured all of my being into making it happen. My outcome was a incredible year in Australia that truly changed my life. As I graduated from high school, I was determined to go to this private girls college in Virginia, again I focused with pure intention and passion. I can reflect back and see the times in my life when I truly focused and stayed true, healthy pregnancies with beautiful at home births, finishing my long over due bachelors degree in my forties, buying my home, my first car, etc… These are all wonderful and important things and experiences that weave in the tapestry of my life, however, focus has an even more glorious way of serving.

My constant focus every day, day in and day out is to serve. To be loving, kind, compassionate, and present with all who cross my path. Choosing in all my moments to be truthful, sincere, and as humble as possible. Of course I am human on the path, so these focuses are constantly being improved and expanded. Humility and vulnerability being the ones that get the most focused work, for they are not encouraged or even recommended in our world, yet when encased in love they are without a doubt the most powerful ways of being, that empower all. When I focus on serving, being that difference, it is amazing how the world lines up with you to manifest wonders and miracles.

Focus is a layered experience for me. The undercurrent focus, that cradles all, is to be of service in humble, vulnerable, love. This focused way of being supports and drives the functional aspects of life, the “do” pieces that dance in the concrete world – creating workshops, coaching clients, writing blogs/books, presenting/speaking and taking honorable care of my personal mind, body and spirit. Focus graces me with the gift to check in, to see if I am aligned. Is what I am doing serving the core focuses of who I am? Or am I distracted and off course? Focus is an important barometer to living a life of passionate purpose.

During my life journey, I have found that the hardest times to focus are when life throws you curve balls. The unexpected moments when things crumble and you find yourself lost and unsteady. I have been blessed with many such graces – losing jobs, my home, my car, bankruptcy, relationship loss, etc… It is in these darkest hours that our focus is truly challenged. Are we going to choose a path of blame, victimhood, denial and avoidance. Or do we pick ourselves up off the floor and look inside to find the gifts, the lessons, the hidden opportunities? We all love that feel good movie, right? Why? Because the main character rose above the circumstances. We feel inspired and hopeful. Focus, is truly a powerful practice.

Where do you focus? What fuels your focus? Is your focus in line with your dreams?

May today unfold with focused grace for you. The opportunity to A.C.T. (always choose truth) will put you in tune with your true inner focus.