The High Cost of Focusing on the Wrong Thing: A Lesson in Productivity and Perspective

Each month, a colleague of mine compiles a detailed productivity and quality report for a team leader, outlining the performance of a staff member she manages. I'm always copied on these emails. What unfolds next is both astonishing and disheartening: the staff member in question meticulously reviews every point in the report, not to identify areas for improvement, but to find mistakes she can use against my colleague as a form of retaliation. Her ego blinds her to the bigger picture. Rather than dedicating her time and energy to improving her work and avoiding negative feedback in the future, she obsesses over finding faults in the report. This misdirected focus exemplifies mediocrity at its finest.

I, too, have been guilty of focusing on the wrong things, albeit in a different context. For a long time, I viewed life through the lens of what I lacked instead of appreciating what I had. This mindset led me to label these perceived deficiencies as failures, sources of shame, and evidence of unworthiness, ultimately making myself miserable. It's true what they say: what you focus on grows. This unproductive way of spending your time extends to your entire life.

Recently, I listened to a coach whose words profoundly resonated with me. He articulated a concept I'd heard before but was finally ready to fully grasp: much of our suffering stems from living too much in the past, where our pains, disappointments, and regrets reside, or too much in the future, where our anxieties and fears dwell. We spend a mere one percent of our lives truly living in the present moment. This realization struck me deeply.

When I engaged in an exercise recommended by the coach, I was astonished by how often my mind wandered to the past and the future. Recognizing this default setting in my brain, I began to actively ask myself, "Where are you?" This question anchored me back in the present. I also made it a point to practice gratitude for everything in my life, savoring daily activities such as sleeping, cooking, showering, walking, drinking coffee, and eating. Choosing to live grounded in the present and finding joy in what I have has transformed my energy and outlook, making life feel infinitely better.

Reflect on where your focus lies. If this resonates with you, be mindful of what you concentrate on, as it will grow and permeate all areas of your life. We should all care deeply about our experience of life in the now, finding joy and pleasure in even the smallest details.

Yours Truly,

The Queen Of Africa