Usain Bolt, a Gold Medalist Sprinter from Jamaica, has been quoted as saying, "I have to move on now as there is no point to dwell on the past. I have a few days to refocus and get ready for the 200 meters on Friday. After this, I have the 4×100-meter and a few other races before the end of the season."
This is our final topic in this series, "Refocus." Refocus oftentimes is required to move forward. To be successful. To meet the objectives. To achieve. To win. Refocus is something we must choose to do. Refocusing may mean swallowing pride, accepting defeat, going with a plan B, being patient, changing the course of action, or being resilient. One primary reason, to refocus, that each of us has been guilty of at some point is focusing too much, too long, and too often on our past!
It is true, we can learn from our past. We can grow from our past. However, that same past can become a detour, an anchor, a stumbling block, or a place where my perception and sight become distorted (thus the refocus).
We see from Usain's quote, that he needed to refocus because he was dwelling on the past, and remaining there could jeopardize his future performance and rob him of future victories, records, and medals.
Regret hinders refocus. Replaying what could have been, delays refocus. Comparing today to times of old squashes the opportunity for refocus. Refocusing requires us to embrace today for the potential it contains and to commit to maximizing all that is possible without the boundaries, limitations, and strangling impact of the past.
Yesterday, I heard a powerful teaching ministered by Priscilla Shirer, about identity and how the past can cause you to not know, not embrace, not understand, or not live in your true identity in God!! This teaching was timely for me and really freeing. If my past or other life experiences have aligned with my "feeling" or thinking, that I am not worthy, then without REFOCUS, I will behave, live, and engage from that perspective. You fill in the blank with your reality. Mine was being worthy. Notice I said, "was!"
This week, I invite you to refocus. To shift your thoughts, motives, and speech in a direction that moves you forward, in a direction that propels you, and with a force that gives you momentum. Let go and let God. Simple to read. Simple to say. Sometimes challenging to do, but with everyday trusting, becomes easier and easier and refocusing becomes easier to recognize because He brings it all into perspective and provides sight to areas of blindness.
"Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and his sight was completely restored, and he began to see everything clearly." Mark 8:25 (Amplified Version)
Refocus today so that the vision for what to do, how to do it, and why to do it becomes 20/20! FredaSpeaks Thank You for Subscribing to FredaSpeaks!