#2 - Staying Focused On the Mission (5/25/25)
"Never stray from the way." — Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkodo
The Question
How does one stay focused on their mission in a world filled with distractions?
The world we inhabit today is one of unparalleled potential distractions. Some such as alcohol have existed for centuries, meanwhile others like social media are a relatively new form only becoming prominent in the last few decades. Unfortunately, in many ways the effects of these distractions remain the same temporarily giving us a form of escape that only serves to keep us from the path we've chosen for ourselves.
Other types of distractions, such as work obligations can at face value be far less harmful but are often insidious. The fact is many people often find that their jobs aren't what they truly want to do with their lives and yet they must give them so much of their time. Unless you've received some sort of inheritance or have someone otherwise paying your way you must work to live so how does one balance this?
My Answer
Prioritization, Discipline, and Focus.
Prioritization
- Eliminate Waste: I ask myself what tasks will most likely meaningfully contribute to my goals so as to not waste time on those that won't.
- Test Assumptions: I constantly reevaluate these tasks to ensure they are having the desired effects on my predetermined goals.
Discipline
- Consistency: As I add and remove tasks over time what doesn't change is the consistent effort that I put into each of them.
- Accountability: If for whatever reason I couldn't get a task done when I planned to, I make sure to make it up to myself in a quantifiable way.
Focus
- Attention: Each task gets my undivided attention when it's time to get it done. I don't allow one to distract me from another.
- Limitation: I ensure that I limit my number of tasks in a day so that each gets the degree of time required for me to do it to the best of my ability.
The Reality
No one is perfect, therefore neither is any plan made by people. The reality is even the most productive and disciplined among us will occasionally have a lapse in said discipline. For example, someone with children might have to forgo their entire plan for the day to care for them this is perfectly normal and to be expected. In moments like these it's important to give ourselves grace and understand that we are only human.
With that said, I believe it's essential that we don't chase perfection In our lives or anything that we do. As somewhat of a perfectionist myself, I realize how difficult this can be for some people. However, rather than striving for perfection, I believe from my own experience that it's far healthier and effective to simply aim to improve every day. As I've found that over time these improvements can often compound into extraordinary results.
Conclusion
Operate with prioritization, discipline, and focus but also make sure to give yourself grace when needed. No one is perfect, but so long as you're making a consistent effort to improve over time, the odds are heavily stacked in favor of you making extraordinary progress in whatever it is you're determined to do. Distractions in this life are inevitable, but as Musashi says in Dokkodo, "never stray from the way". So long as you don't, you're sure to reach your desired destination one day.