Where you focus your attention has a profound influence on where you will go in your life.  Golfers are familiar with the fact that focusing your mind on where you want the golf ball to end up is more important than focusing your mind on where the ball is when you hit it.  The ball tends to go where you focus your thought.  The same is true for yourself, your circumstances, your mood, your health, and your behavior.

Those of us with chronic diseases can easily become focused on the disease and its symptoms.  Of course we need to be aware of the disease and its symptoms, and we need to address those on a daily basis; but if that becomes the focus of your life, you are giving more power to the disease.  After seeing where things are right now, and addressing anything that needs immediate attention, focus on where you want your life to go.

Make your passions, your goals, and your positive qualities the focus of your attention.  Picture yourself doing what you want to do, and being what you want to be.  Take any action towards those goals that you can take.

Affirmations are an easy way to get your mind focused in the right direction, and affirmations also have a powerful influence on your behaviors.  Repeat statements to yourself that declare what you believe is actually your potential.  For example, if you believe you have the potential to be successful in a specific area, state, “I am successful in _______.”  Your mind will gradually start directing that potential to reveal itself in your behaviors.

Those of us who have faith in a Higher Power know that we have unlimited resources to help us reach the place in life where we want to be.  Incorporate your faith into your focus in life.  Meditate, and pray with a focus on your goals.

Focusing your mind on the goal will boost your mood, your energy, and your body’s ability to fight disease.  You will reach your ultimate goal.

Christopher Knippers, Ph.D.,   July 13, 2016