Have you ever found yourself really excited about the possibility of something new that it scares you?
What do you do? Focus on the good feeling you'll get when that possibility becomes real or on what could possibly go wrong. i.e. The best case scenario and the worst case scenario.
Being an optimist focussing on the best case scenario comes naturally. Also because there's only just one thing to focus on. Whereas the worst case scenario - well, there could be so many variations to it. It divides your attention. Your focus is spread and in the end you're just trying to achieve the best case scenario. So why waste your time? Just focus on what you really want in the end.
Ok, stop rolling your eyes wondering what I'm on about. I'll explain with a real life example.
You remember that time when I decided to sign up for the 5k run and also committed myself to raising $1000 for charity? Its hard to not remember, everyone in my life knew about it. And if you didn't know me at that time, then well, just take my word for it. It happened some time in 2010.
Anyway, it was a time when I was at my unhealthiest best. But I had bought into the dream of doing something outside my comfort zone and wanted to do it. My best case scenario would've been finishing the 5k and raising my set target.
My worst case would've been not doing anything about either of them or doing just half of it or just quarter or breaking a leg or being eaten by a raccoon.. (you get the point, I hope)
On my first day itself, I was given a BIG reality check. I was asked to run and I couldn't even run for a minute. Not even 100 meters. Right then and there, I had a choice. I chose to focus on what I really wanted. The happy feeling, wait, that doesn't do justice. That 'awesome adrenalin rush sort've feeling knowing you can do whatever it is you decide to do' (hope that does justice) I'd experience when I had achieved what I set my heart and mind on.
Since that moment on, I didn't for even a single day entertain the possible 'worst case scenarios' and the result was there for all to see. I finished the full 5k and also managed to raise and exceed my set target for charity.
The bonus well there were two.
1. learnt I had it in me to be a sales person.... Of course some people were just made guilty to donate...;) (Surely, they still love me for having forced them to do a good deed....)
2. I had injured myself which I realised a week after. That led me to the cutest Physio I'd seen.
So what was my point? Yes, it's this. In the end you'll only end up getting what you truly focus all your energies on. Don't you then owe it to yourself to focus only on that which you really want?
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