Have you ever heard the saying “Energy goes where attention flows“? It’s actually one of the key things in success.
If you focus on one thing consistently, you’ll automatically not only think about it, but also start to talk about it. And when you talk about it, you start to take action on it. And when you consistently take action, momentum gathers and you start to see results. (That’s the process of turning your imagination into reality – how all human made things are done.)
There’s science behind this, too.
Did you know that our mind cannot cope with all the information we receive from the outside world through our senses? Our brain would consume all available energy in order to process the enormity of information and none would be left for other bodily functions.
So, for the purpose of saving energy and keeping us alive, our brain filters the entering information and only allows part of it in.
Some of the information is disregarded and deleted right away. Some is generalized to fit in with the already existing information. Some is distorted.
All three ways of filtering is done based on our current map of the world. Based on our past experiences. Based on our existing beliefs. Based on our goals and dreams.
For example, last week I had a market research call with one of my past customers. Sidenote: a bit embarrassed to admit that I haven’t done market research this way before. Now my coach gently nudged me to do it, and I’m in love with the process! Anyway, because we share a long history, I knew about her current situation and with every market research question I dived a bit deeper to ensure she gained clarity in her own business, too.
For my surprise, she had lately been focusing on only seeing the challenges in the current situation. Thus completely ignoring the success they’ve actually received along the way. (Hello, it’s the stories we keep telling ourselves – check in with your stories!)
Just with one question, I got her looking at the truth. Which, this time, came in the form of numbers. How many of you hate looking at the numbers? Want to know why it’s important to look at them?
Because numbers never lie.
And they don’t tell stories, either. They just show what the situation is. We’re the ones adding the stories around those numbers (sometimes for our benefit, but sometimes against it).
Turned out, numbers showed a bit different review of the current situation than her story did. While she was worried all was going horribly wrong, numbers showed that they were on track to succeed with their yearly sales goal, if not to surpass it.
Obviously, something was going well after all and I cannot wait to hear what’s happening next. Now that her attention has shifted and the energy goes into different direction, allowing in not only signs of horror but also those of success.
Makes me wonder, how would you approach your days if you deep within knew that your dream can and will happen?
Much love,
Paula
xx