We’re wrapping up our theme for the month of March: FOCUS.
For me, this one definitely hits close to home. What about you?
Let’s be honest. The online world is noisy, and I don’t see it getting quieter anytime soon. Don’t get me wrong, some of the noise is good. Really, really good. And some of it is downright ugly. Regardless, we all have a capacity limit, and when that limit is exceeded, it can be almost impossible to maintain focus.
I know … I don’t like being told I have limits either. When someone tells me I can’t do something, there’s a little part of me that just wants to prove them wrong. Of course I can make it work, right? Yeah, maybe not. I’ve learned that one the hard way too many times.
For someone who teeters on the line between introvert and extrovert, being thrown head-on into this world of blogging and social media has threatened to turn me into a hermit. The pressure to be everywhere all at the same time and be awesome at it all is huge, particularly if you’re like me and your business depends on it.
Being online can teach you a lot about yourself if you let it.
I’ve found there’s a direct correlation between how well I manage my online life and how well I am able to stay focused on the things that are most important to me. Everything affects everything else. I can’t do it all. I can’t even do as much as many of the people I see around me. That can be a hard pill to swallow, but at the same time, it’s incredibly freeing.
My heart’s cry for this season of life is for simplicity. I’m still learning what that looks like for me. I talk to Phil a lot about tiny houses, but I know that isn’t the answer. It’s more about understanding my limits and learning to exercise the self-discipline needed to function well within those limits, rather than trying to push the boundaries every second of every day to measure up to what I feel like The Internet expects of me. I’m taking baby steps.
You may have the capacity to be an Instagram Queen. (If you do, I love looking at your amazing photos!) I know I don’t … even the thought of it is just too exhausting … so I’m not going to try to be one.
Sometimes I just delete my Facebook app from my iPhone. It’s incredibly freeing, and the world doesn’t stop. After a while I usually add it back again, until I find myself looking at it too much. Then away it goes.
There are times and seasons. It’s okay to pull back from something to focus on another thing for a while. I’m learning to see when I need to pull away, and it’s amazing the focus that comes when I do.
We all have limits.
And it’s okay.
Accepting that doesn’t make you less valuable. It’s about understanding how God made you. He didn’t mess up. The way you’re wired isn’t some cosmic mistake. We’re all unique and wonderfully made.
You don’t have to be like anyone else. It shouldn’t be a contest. If you feel like it is one, it’s probably time to take a break and re-evaluate.
Just be you. Authenticity is so valuable. We need more of it. We need you.
If you missed any of the Focus-themed posts here at Allume, I encourage you to go back and read them. There’s some great stuff here:
- How to Blog with Focus
- When Mentoring Shows Your Beauty
- Overcoming Focus Deprivation
- The Very First Step to a Focused Life
- How to Untangle Your Brain and Focus
- How to Succeed
- The Eighteen Year Old Syndrome
- The Perfect Blog
Blessings,
Erin
Alyjfoy says
March 28, 2015 at 10:08 amFocus-A very important thing! It’s the multi-tool of life with all of the different attachments, but it can’t be found at Sears. I have figured that out. You can’t buy focus. You have to learn how to use it and be able to tap into it when all is going a bit wacky…springs have sprung, nuts are loosening up, and nails are rusting. For someone like me who tends to have many things going at once, I find that when I reverse back to my soul. Back to God, back to what matters most, I can access my focus, take a deep breath, recharge and carry on. It’s an awesome feeling to be able to do that. I have to do it a lot, especially living with Attention Deficit. It is a gift and if I don’t care for it in the right way it can be my own worst enemy. Best to you and all! Aly
Erin Ulrich says
March 31, 2015 at 1:27 pm“I find that when I reverse back to my soul. Back to God, back to what matters most, I can access my focus, take a deep breath, recharge and carry on.”
Yes, this!! It sums it all up!
Laila says
March 29, 2015 at 1:03 pmI have really enjoyed this series on focus. I’m trying to be more intentional about what noise I let into my space. Knowing when to turn it down (or delete the app/log off!). I often joke that I remember life before social media. I spent more time doing good things instead of focusing on what other folks are doing.
Erin Ulrich says
March 31, 2015 at 1:26 pmSo true! And I think when we focus on what others are doing it’s a slippery slope from there to falling into the comparison game too. Maintaining focus is a hard battle, but so worth it!