Check out why you need to focus for building a meaningful life as a believerAs believers, we often reflect on what it means to have a meaningful life.

We want to be proactive to make choices in our lives so that we have impact during our short time on earth.

We often hear about choosing the right activities, the right employment, the right ministry.

We hear about being a testimony for the Lord – making a difference in others’ lives.

But what I want to address today is a different angle and that is the need to focus.

Why is focus needed for building a meaningful life?

Whether or not you are a believer, focus is usually needed to create a meaningful life.

A friend of mine told me that he had been talking to a real sharp young guy over a period of a few weeks, trying to learn about this young man – what he wants out of life.

This guy didn’t seem to have much clarity in his mind about what he wants so is just a very busy guy. Busy. Busy.

He doesn’t know what he really wants – therefore he has no focus.

This story really impacted me. Think about it. This young guy doesn’t know what he wants . . . but he is very, very busy.

Being busy doesn’t necessarily equate to making progress.

Or making an impact.

Or being on a path to reach a goal.

What this guy needs is to decide what he really wants to accomplish in his life and then to focus on what he needs to do to get there.

Focus is so key to our long term goals and it is what impacts our short term goals.

Focus for building a meaningful life includes the need to simplify.

Keep things simple and figure out what to ignore.

When we were in Ghana, I dropped in on a fellow missionary one morning. She was scrubbing a window sill with a toothbrush and told me she had been at it for an hour.

That was interesting use of her time, but I’m sure she had a good reason. I had to wonder though where I might be doing the same thing inadvertently.

Your goal should not be to just get a job done, but to get the important jobs done.

Make sure the time you spend on a task is proportionate to its importance.

Discover how to get more energy

Don’t waste time on things that aren’t adding value to your life or your job. If you simplify and eliminate the unnecessary time wasters from your life, you will have more time to focus on what is important.

Scripture tells us to focus.A big time waster can be technology. Sometimes you need to disconnect from it. Turn off all notifications of emails, facebook notifications, tweets etc. Put controls on your time on social media, and only go there when you schedule it in either for a purpose or for pleasure.

You will have to give more of yourself to fewer efforts. Learn to focus.

Everything we think about is taking up real estate in our brain and that can dilute our focus if we are spending too much time thinking on the wrong things. Check out this post for five tips to help you evaluate if something is taking up too much real estate in your brain.

Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look directly forward,and your gaze be straight before you.” I love the image that that verse makes us think of. Look directly forward. Keep your focus! Know where you are going. Don’t be distracted.

In summary, you will have to give more of yourself to fewer efforts. Focus on what is important and learn to simplify.

A truly meaningful life is a focused life. What are you focused on?

A great resource that has helped me increase my focus and productivity  is the book The One Thing (affiliate link) by Gary Keller. See if it helps you to focus better.