If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything in this world… Focus on one goal at a time, and you’ll be fine. As many successful people have shared, this is a tried-and-true method. This simple concept was the subject of an entire book by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. However, don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this concept. It’s one of the most difficult things to put into practice in your daily life. “The Power of Compounding” was an article I wrote last year about focusing on one thing. More than a few people have written to ask, “I get the concept. “However, I have a hard time putting it into action. “That’s because we, as human beings, are easily swayed by new information. There is no such thing as a fixed set of desires. It’s easier to start something new than finish something we’ve already started. We’re up against an enigmatic force that’s constantly attempting to throw us off our game. Instead of concentrating on a single task at a time, we set multiple objectives and believe that we can accomplish them all by multitasking. The disparity exists between our understanding of the importance of focusing on one thing at a time and our actions (focusing on everything at the same time). A good strategy isn’t about whether or not it’s good, but rather how we can keep ourselves from straying away from it. Throughout this article, I explain how I use this strategy in my daily life. As a starting point, let’s take a look at “One Thing.”
Only ONE ITEM per SPACE in your LIFE
It’s common for people to assume that you should only focus on one thing in your life and nothing else. However, that is not the focus of this plan. To be successful, you must choose your endeavours carefully. A lot of things can be accomplished if you work hard enough. However, this should not be done at once. All of these things can’t be done at the same time. You can’t have kids and travel the world while doing all of these things. However, all of those things are doable in a single lifetime. My life is organised around a single, overarching goal. My life is divided into the following sections: career, health, education, finances, and personal relationships. In other words, I never take on more than one large project at a time. Writing a book or creating an online course is the only option for me at this point in time. One skill at a time is how I prefer to learn new things in my life. When it comes to money, I’m either saving or looking to invest most of the time. For my own well-being, I’m either gaining muscle or increasing my stamina. And so on and so on. There is nothing here that is based on anything other than my own thoughts and feelings about life. There is no right or wrong way to categorise your life. And you don’t have to criticise how others divide up their time. The most important thing is to be aware of the ways in which we classify our own lives. The structure cannot exist without this. In the absence of a framework. There’s commotion. And when things are out of control, there is no such thing as just one thing. That’s awful.
Take Control of Your Wants and Needs
For the vast majority of people, setting goals or prioritising a single goal is a natural next step. For those who lack mental discipline, however, it’s not a good idea. First, you need to work on your ability to focus. Set a goal and focus on one thing at a time; within a week, you’re back to your old ways. You desire a shift in perspective. Instead of always wanting more, try changing your mindset to one of gratitude. In order to truly embody the “one thing” concept, one must do exactly that. Control your impulses, in other words. Mindfulness or Stoicism can help with that. Detaching ourselves from our desires is a major theme in both philosophies. As a result of our insatiable need for more, I believe we are incapable of concentrating on just one thing at a time. True freedom can only be achieved if you remove all of your desires. In one of his classes, the Stoic Epictetus (as recorded by his student Arian) said it best: “To secure freedom, freedom is not secured by the fulfilment of men’s desires, but by the reduction of desire. “Manage your desire, and you’ll get to the root of the problem. It’s impossible, in my opinion, to lead a peaceful and focused life if you’re constantly yearning for new experiences and things. The principles of Zen Buddhism can be found in an article I wrote, and I’ve also started a podcast series on Stoic philosophy. In order to gain control over your desires, you should investigate these options. The fact that we can’t control everything in our lives doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to better ourselves. On the contrary, life is all about progress. Set high aspirations for yourself and don’t be afraid to work toward them. Don’t worry about the big picture; focus on the details one step at a time.
Single-Tasking should be a part of your daily routine.
Practising is now required. Do one thing at a time for the next week. It will be extremely difficult for someone accustomed to modern technology to cope with this. However, if you’re here, you must enjoy a good challenge, or you wouldn’t be interested.
Here’s a test:
- Take a walk (or do some exercise) without any music.
- Don’t answer your phone for the entire day.
- When you’re talking to someone, resist the urge to pick it up.
- Keep your attention focused on ONE thing at a time while you’re at work
- Don’t look at your email during meetings.
This is also known as being in the now. Distractions must be minimised. It’s done. Any object can be used for practice as long as you focus solely on that one thing.
It’s time to focus on just ONE life objective at a time.
The “One Thing” strategy can only be applied to your life if you have learned to control your desires and have practised doing one thing at a time. Your desire to train stems from the fact that life is short. Your reliability will improve as you spend time focusing less on your personal desires. When you do what you say, you’ll become a better person. You’ll become a person who accomplishes what you put your mind to doing. You’ll gain momentum as you accomplish one goal at a time. Keep the momentum going. This is the path to contentment and affluence. Over time, both of these things add up. Keep in mind the bigger picture. You CAN and WILL accomplish all of your objectives. There is no significance to how quickly or slowly you accomplish your goals. That you are not influenced by desire or external forces is all that matters. In other words, you are the architect of your own existence.
