What You Focus On Increases

For over 10 years I’ve been taking advantage of a park near my home to take long walks. I use this time to get some exercise, but more importantly, it’s a time to disconnect from the noise of everyday life and think about how to help others in my coaching business discover and access their own unique personal potential.

The main reason I started walking in this park was our dog Echo loved to take walks. And what was good for him was also very good for me. I grew to really enjoy this time with Echo as we walked regularly.

During our walks, I would often contemplate my perceived inequity I felt between the people riding horses and those with well-behaved dogs that were required to be on-lease all the time. 

It appeared that the “horse-people” had all the power. With miles of open trails, there were no off-lease sections, but the horses could go anywhere they pleased. The “evidence” of where the horses had been showed up the most in the narrow trails near the stream bed where Echo and I preferred to walk.

Avoiding horse manure on the narrow trails was a constant activity. And to make matters more frustrating, Echo saw the horse manure as a trail snack and I had to keep him from sneaking a bite.

Echo has since passed away, a sad cancer story to happen to such a good dog. Rest in peace Echo Doggie.

I still walk in the park without Echo, and of course it’s not the same. But that idea will be discussed in a later blog.

Recently while near the beginning of a 6-mile walk, I stopped to take a picture of the trail showing the change to winter colors.

As I looked at the view in front of me for this picture, I couldn’t help but notice horse manure covering the trail directly in front of me. And the thoughts of the “horse-people” influencing the rule requiring no off-lease opportunities for dogs came back to my mind.

I had decided a long time ago to let this idea not influence my experience in the park, and reminded myself that I could focus on the manure on the trail, or I could focus on the bigger opportunity to enjoy a nice day on the trail thinking about human potential and what creates a life well lived. 

Through my own 25+ personal development journey and 14+ years of coaching I’ve learned what we focus on increases in taking up our available “mental space” and we have the power to choose what will occupy our thoughts, good or bad, productive or unproductive. 

Hopefully, when you looked at the picture of the trail you were not focusing on the horse manure on the trail directly in front.

Instead, I hope you saw a nice view of the park and what would be a nice hike. I hope you were focusing on the bigger picture.

Our everyday choices on how we approach life isn’t all that different. The longer view is always better if you know where you are going in life and have a plan!

You can contact me directly for more information about my personal coaching programs and learning to create an excellent life plan to assist you in reaching your full potential at chris@dtesuccess.com or text me at 1-801-410-2266.