There is a process the mind engages that undermines the capacity to remain focused towards a desired aim or goal. Whether the goal is to lose weight, start or further a business, fulfill a project or sustain efforts in other aims, all desires are essentially ideas that must navigate the functioning of the brain. When the phases of how the brain processes ideas are made conscious you can circumvent undermining pitfalls to sustaining focus and empower your capacity to fuel any intention into fruition.Note that lack of focus is less a character flaw and more a reflection of the process of brain functioning that unwittingly occurs. Here are the essential phases the brain process with any endeavor. Understanding them gives you the upper hand in sustaining your focus.
Novelty Phase
All desires begin as ideas and the novelty of a new idea is very stimulating to the brain as it craves the creative stimulation generated by a new idea. This is when you witness you are gun-ho and highly motivated and active in a particular aim. The duration of this stage varies however it will indeed subside as the brain is functioning purely cognitively in this regard, and newness is what engages it. Do not confuse interest with novelty; while interest may remain sustained, novelty by its nature subsides as the newness of an idea wears off. Being conscious of this Novelty Phase enables you to ride the horse of novelty for all it is worth yet not be daunted when you notice excitement and motivation beginning to wane. As the newness of an idea subsides the cognitive aspect of brain functioning, interested in novelty, is now awaiting the next new thing. Individuals who live primarily from the Novelty Phase of pursuits often start a lot of endeavors or projects but do not complete them. This is assumed to be a character flaw when in actuality one has unwittingly succumb to living only from this aspect of brain functioning.
Familiarity Phase
This is where most individuals get stuck. After novelty wears off an idea will now encounter the subconscious aspect of brain functioning – the area where familiar, programmed thoughts and ideas reside. When an idea encounters the subconscious region of brain functioning it runs into resistance – no matter how desirable the idea is. This is the subconscious’ normal reaction to thoughts and ideas that are not already programed or familiar. By definition all ideas have elements about themselves that are not known – not familiar – to the psyche. Every idea is the seed of an expression that requires new elements to be learned, explored and discovered to facilitate the maturation of the idea’s expression. Any successful entrepreneur will tell you the primary process of goal attainment is learning; learning what the idea needs for fulfillment. Understanding that no idea can be fulfilled on current knowledge alone prepares you to expect natural resistance rather than be done in by it. Recognize resistance as the brain encountering unfamiliarity and proceed to set about learning and understanding the unfolding elements at this juncture of your idea. In this way you do not succumb to resistance but view it as a sign that it is time for learning, growing and perhaps expanding your perception of your capability.
Expansion Phase
As you acclimate the brain to learning new capabilities warranted by your idea you are matching the demand required by the idea’s growth. Many an idea, project, endeavor or business falters because of the refusal to meet demand with personal growth. Personal growth should parallel your idea’s growth. Often an endeavor stagnates in proportion to the, however unconscious, stagnation of the person helming the effort. It is an impossibility to expect an effort to grow fueled only by the present level of one’s capability. An idea always requires its initiator to grow in personal development, expertise, understanding etc., to accommodate the necessities of the idea’s unfoldment.
Commitment Phase
If you see commitment as a therapeutic means to allow unfamiliar capabilities and developing expertise to become familiar programming in your subconscious, you then establish a healthy attitude with the act of remaining committed to an endeavor. When commitment is engaged as a means to attempt doggedly to progress from a static level of capacity or expertise, (present capacities your endeavor has already maximized) then commitment becomes a relationship of exasperating futility. The healthy regard for commitment based on viewing it as means to familiarize the subconscious with new learning and insight into your endeavor fuels your focus with laser-like precision!
Ultimately, an idea is an extension of the one through whom the idea emerges. The greater your willingness to grow yourself as well as your idea the more enabled and unwavering becomes your focus.
