5 Steps To Create Focus In Your Life

Nowadays it seems to be about simplicity all the time. We need to live a more focused life. We need to have less 'noise' in our lives. We need to get rid of all the activities and things which lead us away from reaching our goals.

Looking at many people I work and speak with, this is not a matter of choice anymore. They need to lose the interruptions in their lives in order to keep their jobs, pay their mortgages and have at least food on the table.

All this talk about simplicity is not what we need. We don't need simplicity either.

When I first started to work in my own business, I really was the do-it-all person. I wanted to make a steady income for my family. I wanted to do whatever needed.

You can probably guess the result I got.

Yep, I wasn't making a lot of money. My mind and activities were too scattered. It was time for something different. I needed to become more focused.

And so I did.

One of the first things was that I focused solely on visual thinking and how this could assist individuals. I always wanted to be there for people, in a personal or a business situation. When you help the individual, you indirectly help the business.

The results of being more focused?

I wrote 2 books in one year
I created two successful online training courses
I trained many (many) people offline in becoming more productive and balanced
I was able to enjoy more free time and spend this with my family
All this would never have been possible if I just simplified my life. I needed to focus and master what I was doing and wanted to do.

What do all of these have to do with mind mapping?

Well... at first probably nothing. In the end, probably nothing. But in between it has a lot to do with visual mapping, mind mapping and summapping.

Here's why, and here's how you can benefit from this immediately

When I was doing all those things at the same time, my head sometimes 'exploded' with thoughts, ideas and information. This was of course not the focus I needed.

What I did was simple (and it only involves 5 simple steps).

1. I took a big sheet of white paper. I wrote down everything I had in my head (ideas), what I wanted to accomplish (goals) and what I loved to do (passions).

2. I organized the information in such a way that everything in the 'map' was located exactly there where it should be. This means my goals and ideas and passions were outlined in several directions. To say this in mindmap words: I created branches with information. Closer to the center means closer to the present. Towards the outside is further into the future.

3. From this I determined which branch could help me in accomplishing what I wanted in life and what could not (the latter is very important to identify).

4. I removed everything except the 'branch' or path, as I like to call it, which leads me into my future. This helped me focus.

5. I took ACTION to really get what I wanted.

I had literally removed most of my negative objects out of my life.

From that moment on things became easier. Life was better and clear.

THE RESULT

This is one of the ways I really USE maps in my life AND my business. They work for me (as they should work for you).

A map to me is a tool to get overview in information. It doesn't matter if this is in studying, project planning or simply getting my priorities straightened out at home.

Do you remember the circle I created to USE maps in the entire process of my activities? Getting more focus is just one of the many real life examples in APPLYING that circle.

It's a small example for us, yet for many people who are only creating mindmaps to take notes or even grocery lists (...don't get me started on that) this offers a completely different perspective. The clients I share this with become more productive andremove a lot of mind chatter (or 'noise') in their lives.

What will you do with this information?

If you are a person who is already completely focused, you don't really need this. Your gain from this article is to understand you are focused.

If you feel you lack focus you should use this information... today!

How do you know you are not that focused yet? Hmm, let me see (drawing as well from my own experiences)...

You don't really know where you are going today and in life
You are easily distracted
You keep reading blog articles which don't assist you to move forward (just keep on reading my articles)
You don't really care or are interested in what you do (lack of motivation)
You talk a lot, but don't take action
If you experience one or more of the 'lack of focus' items from the list above... you need to TAKE ACTION.

I was in the fortunate situation that I was in a Mastermind group. After I created the visual map of myself and my life, I received assistance from one of the other members in the Mastermind. Make sure you start to use your mindmap and take action. Ask people to assist you or ask for their advice. It will help you a lot!

"My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible.
All are of no value unless they are followed by action." - Og Mandino

By: Arjen Ter Hoeve

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Creating clarity and overview in your information will give you a clear mind. This is vital when you want to create success in your life. When you like to learn more on how you can manage yourself, your environment and how information influences you, have a look at MindmapsUnleashed.com