Did That Title Snap You Back to School?
Remember when daydreaming in class earned you a teacher’s glare and a sharp “Pay attention!”?
Well, here we are, decades later, and the struggle to stay focused is still very real. Only now, it’s our dreams—not teachers—pulling us out of alignment. Let me explain.
The most common reason people don’t hit their goals? A lack of consistent, deliberate attention.
You can visualize success, create mood boards, and write affirmations until you’re blue in the face, but without focused attention, these are just sparkles—pretty but powerless. Karen Lamb nailed it: “A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today.”
And trust me, that quote? It’s a punch in the gut every time I read it.
The Missing Piece of Your Puzzle
You’ve set your goals, and you’re fired up. Maybe you’ve even told your friends, journaled about it, and felt that rush of motivation. But let me ask you this:
When was the last time you checked in with your goals?
Not a cursory glance. Not a fleeting thought. I’m talking about intentional, focused, disciplined attention. Because paying attention isn’t sexy—it’s not a montage of glamorous hustle scenes. It’s the grind, the nitty-gritty of reviewing numbers, tracking progress, and recalibrating when things go sideways.
Fast-Forward Six Months
Picture this: It’s mid-year, and you’re sitting there, wondering why you’re spinning your wheels. Why your ambitions feel more like burdens. Why you’re no closer to where you want to be.
Here’s the truth: You got distracted. Maybe it was a shiny new idea. Maybe it was life being life. Or maybe you thought a goal left on autopilot would somehow steer itself.
It doesn’t.
Why Do We Avoid Paying Attention?
Two big reasons: it’s boring, and it’s scary.
- Boredom: The Silent Killer of Goals
Paying attention lacks sparkle. It’s not as fun as dreaming big, and it’s definitely not as exciting as hitting a milestone. But here’s the kicker: without attention, there are no milestones.
Think of paying attention as building the scaffolding for your success. Sure, it’s repetitive and not Instagram-worthy, but it’s what keeps your dreams from crumbling under the weight of distractions. The day-to-day grind of tracking your progress and revisiting your commitments isn’t glamorous, but it is transformative.
Here’s the truth: boredom isn’t a sign you’re failing—it’s a sign you’re on the right path. Boredom means you’re putting in the reps that create results. It’s not about spreadsheets or endless data; it’s about finding a rhythm that works for you and sticking with it.
Want to make it more engaging? Reward yourself for the little wins. Celebrate checking off those tiny, unremarkable steps, because they’re the foundation of the breakthrough moments you’re chasing.
- Fear: Facing the Hard Truths
The other culprit? Fear. It’s sneaky, isn’t it? We tell ourselves we’re too busy to look at our progress or that we’ll “get to it later,” but really, we’re scared of what we might see.
What if the numbers don’t look good? What if the effort you’ve poured in doesn’t seem to be paying off? Fear feeds that little voice in your head whispering, “Maybe you’re not good enough.”
But here’s the thing: ignoring reality doesn’t change it. The sooner you face the truth—whatever it is—the sooner you can adjust and get back on track. Remember, the numbers aren’t your enemy. They’re your roadmap. They tell you where you’re excelling and where you need to course-correct. They hold the clues to your next big move.
Let me be clear: confronting your progress (or lack thereof) doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re taking control. Fear loses its power when you stop running from it. Instead of seeing setbacks as proof you’re not enough, see them as proof you’re growing. Because every stumble is a step closer to success.
📸 Meet Taya, my daughter, and her surf lifeboat racing team. After many losses, mistakes, and missed placements, they made the semis this weekend! How? By paying attention to their goals, putting in the training, and facing their fears head-on. Proof that when you focus and commit, the results will come.
Drag Your Attention Back
Attention is the bridge between intention and achievement. It’s the thing that transforms your goals from fleeting ideas into tangible results. So, stop waiting for your goals to magically fall into place. Reignite that spark. Stoke the fire. And get real with yourself about what it’s going to take to make 2025 the year you finally see those big, audacious dreams come to life.
Janine x