Patterns of focus

I happened to notice that Theo Von had Tony Robbins as a guest on his latest podcast. It's been a while since I checked in on what Tony is up to, so I kicked it off while working on some SQL queries. Tony never disappoints when it comes to dropping wisdom. In the first fifteen minutes, he explained why so many people end up living in fear, anger, or depression. The outcomes boil down to the decisions we make, and one of the first decisions we make is where to focus.

Tony identified three patterns of focus by asking the following three questions:

1. Do you tend to focus more on what you have or what's missing? If you constantly focus on what's missing, it's hard to stay fulfilled or happy. If you focus on what you have (gratitude), you'll be more fulfilled.
2. Do you tend to focus more on what you can control or what you can't control? People who focus on what they can't control end up overwhelmed and stressed out because so many things are out of their control. Focusing on what you can control gives you the power to determine outcomes.
3. Do you tend to focus on the past, present, or future? People who focus on the past, which they cannot change, end up more sad and depressed with regret. Focusing on the present and building the future channels your energy into more productive endeavors.

Tony recommends building habits to change your focus on what you have, what you can control, and your present and future for long-term happiness and fulfillment.