HALO's Life Skill for this month is Focus. Our staff, youth, and volunteers are encouraged to concentrate on how they might improve this life skill in their lives. One fascinating example of this is the keen focus of our volunteers. Their focus helped us surpass our $150,000 goal at the KC HALO Artreach Auction a few weeks back. This will will give hundreds of children in need the ability to dream.
I asked Brian Davidson, my Martial Arts instructor of 15 years, to be a guest blogger today and teach us a bit about the focus of a black belt. Such a treat:
FOCUS is the necessary ingredient for success. Without FOCUS, getting to a goal is an accident or a lucky break. FOCUS does
have a teammate, however. His name is
DISCIPLINE. The two teammates work hand-in-hand to achieve goals. DISCIPLINE requires FOCUS and FOCUS
requires DISCIPLINE. To become successful at anything in life we have to repeat it over and over.
In my sport of martial arts, I have to punch and kick every
day. And each day I have to approach the
punch or kick as if I’m not good at it yet, as if I have so much more to learn about the punch or kick. Even as a Master my kick will always have room to improve. I
must use FOCUS to continue to enjoy kicking and punching. I must FOCUS on the image I have in my mind
of what the kick is supposed to look like.
I will continue that FOCUS until it matches my mental image.
This analogy is applicable in all areas of life. FOCUS
forces us to settle down and concentrate on a task. But at the same time it forces us to move forward as we get closer to achieving our goal.
A Drill to Practice:
Make a Major Goal.
Set up 3 small goals that will help you reach the Major Goal. FOCUS on
the first small goal, the second, and then the finally the third. You will find yourself reaching more goals
using this format.
Exercise to Simulate:
Major Goal: 75 pushups.
1st small goal: 25 push ups. 2nd small goal: 2nd set of 25
pushups. 3rd small goal: 3rd set 25 pushups. Once you are able to do 3 sets of 25 push-ups, you have
completed your Major Goal.
Congratulations.
Brian Davidson
6th Degree Black Belt
Master Instructor, Multiple World Champion
Professional Mixed Martial Artist
