Monday, December 27, 2010

DAY 501 Getting Back In Focus

Hi there Journal & Friends,

Been asking myself WHY these last 6 months have been so difficult, progress-wise. What changed??

When I read a post from Diana, at Diana's Weight Loss Journey  I think I found part of the answer.

 Focus. 

Nothing exotic or earth-shattering. Just a simple lack of focus.


FOCUS
hub
topic
heart
accent
priority
nucleus
concentration
subject matter
center of attention
pay particular attention to
the center of interest of activity
the act of concentrating on something


This last summer, I had been blogging for 1 year. I wanted to shift from writing ABOUT life, to living life. I was spending soooo much time blogging, I had no time to DO the stuff I was losing the weight in order to do!

So... brilliant tactician that I am, I decided to blog less and live more. Great plan, right??


Except that I lost some of my focus when I did that. I haven't learned how to keep totally on track, the balance. One main reason, noted in my sidebar, for starting my blog in the first place was to keep me FOCUSED!!

But the blogging is a tool. It can't become a substitute for life! I need to learn to live a focused life, and DO the healthy stuff out of routine. To live my life in a healthy way, and not be distracted. Not use being busy with the LIVING part as an excuse to neglect the HEALTHY stuff.

This in not an either/or deal. I need both. I need the focus, but I need the LIFE!

So... that is what I want to learn. I guess I got ahead of myself, thinking I had this Focus thing down, when I obviously did NOT.

Back to focusing on Focus, and learning that balance!

From Dr Phil's book: "To change your weight, to achieve permanent weight loss, you have to be totally, consciously in charge of yourself and everything you do, think and feel... use that control to create the healthy "you" that you deserve to be and have."

My verse for today: "Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever."

My quote for today: "Do not wait; the time will never be just right." --Napoleon Hill

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta
=^..^=


10 comments:

Anne H said...

The cyber lines are blurred, it seems....
People say "It's just a blog!"
But it sure has a good effect on us, right?
For most people who love blogging,
and suddenly drop out, it's probably bad news.
There is a way to balance both.
Even if blogging is a temporary sub for eating,
I'm still glad I found it!

Christina said...

Balancing living and blogging while focusing on healthy stuff is tough. I either blog and do well OR don't have time to blog and don't focus well. Even short blogs help me stay focused. Good luck finding the magical balance, Retta! Love the cat!!

Anonymous said...

I'm asking the Lord to give us both wisdom to--schedule! There's a saying that a task will take just as much time as you have. If you have an hour to get X done, it'll take an hour. If you have 40 minutes to get X don, it'll take 40 minutes.

Of course, the saying has flaws, but the point is you'll pace yourself differently depending on the amount of time you have.

If we want to live ife, we don't have all day to blog, read blogs, search out new bloggers, leave comments, do online searches...to our hearts content and our bottoms endurance.

Can you tell I've been thinking about this? I've been off blogging against my will do to the surgery (couldn't sit) and then the holidays, but I've been thinking about the need to schedule. My old plan was to do blog stuff while I watched the news. That's at least 3 hours for me a day. And since I'd be watching the news anyway, I don't have to feel guilty about the time use. :D I hate guilt.

That may not work for everyone, but it did for me. I'm going to go back to that. And regarding focus--well, that wasn't actually my problem--but to get me accountable for food, I've started (again) to do a daily food list. (Uh-hmm. I've done one day.) We'll see.

God will give us wisdom. :D But you now that.

Deb

E. Jane said...

I think finding balance can be very difficult. I have recently gone to scheduling my blogging time (still having difficulty sticking to it). I try to set so much time per day to be on the computer, otherwise I'm on too much, and I forget that I have a life. I understand exactly what you're saying. Balance may be hard for those of us who are dealing with overweight and obesity, because it is not one of the things we do well. Perhaps that's why I overeat and sometimes overspend. For me, it's not just the weight--it's the whole ball of wax that is me. I'm still working on me!

M Pax said...

Balance is the hardest thing to learn. Balance and moderation.

Our culture is very all or nothing - committ 110% - go big or go home.

But there is success floating between all or nothing. Take steps as you're ready. You'll feel when you are.

Keep working at it and you'll be all right.

mamajuliana said...

Balance is not a word I do well with.

I fall off of both sides of the wagon with stunning regularity. I have sort of been taking it easy in the focus department since the middle of November...so guess who has to get back on that wagon...MOI!

I need blogging, too. When I was not blogging, I missed it. I am still dealing with a few 'private' family issues, but I have decided to blog again. I need it! Accountability and on-line friends like you!

Jules - Big Girl Bombshell said...

Oh girl we are so much alike....i myself wrote about re-committing and getting focused...I too agree with you..I decided to live my life but I have to learn the healthy lifestyle to live the life I truly want...
xoxo

Christine said...

I think once we start feeling better we say "I want to do the things I haven't been doing, I want to live now that I feel better" which is completely healthy. But then our focus is out there and not on our journey as much. I did that...now I am refocusing to get the last 15 pounds off. On long journeys I think it's almost impossible not to 'set it down' then pick it back up. good post. Here's to finishing it well.

Joy said...

Balancing this new lifestyle can be challenging for sure! I found balancing my health & finess and Christmas preparation was almost more than I could handle. Fortunately I did not forsake "me" for the other things this season. I did not get my Christmas cards out, no cookies for the neighbors, no decorating or gifts for my staff, did not go to a couple of celebrations and activities. I found it nerve racking to say no...in the beginning. Then after awhile, I got this new feeling (that I have not experienced before) of accomplishment. I put me first! That was huge!! I am grateful for this experience, because I need that same focus for 2011. I have big goals that I am going to achieve!!

Keep focused my friend - We are going to make this happen!!

Leslie said...

I love this post. I am also striving to regain focus - I've still been blogging a good bit, but skipping (omitting) key elements and total truths in the interest of sounding better than I've been. NO MORE. May we all enter 2011 with focus, enthusiasm, hope and inspiration!

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