• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Leap Forward Coaching

Leap Forward Coaching

Life, Executive and Career Coaching

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Executive Coaching
    • Life Coaching
    • Career Coaching
    • Our Process
  • Clients
  • Newsletters
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Contact

Focus Inward

May 6, 2020 by leapforward 2 Comments

In the swirling chaos of world events, it’s been difficult to know which way to turn. We’re starting a two-part series aimed at helping you balance your focus for personal and professional health. This month we’re talking about focusing inward; next time, we’ll discuss focusing outward. Thanks for joining us!

Inspirational Thoughts

“As we journey inward we reflect our light outward.” ~ Baron Baptiste

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” ~ Plutarch

Focus Inward

For most of us, the past several months have been a life-changing rollercoaster. Routines have been upended and nothing seems “normal.” Many struggle just to get through each day — let alone make strides or conquer goals. It’s easy to feel like your focus is shattered and without direction.

I want to share some thoughts to help focus your mind and your actions … calm your body and mind … and maybe even give due diligence to your plans for the future.

The Value of Inward Focus

For some, focusing inward is natural and energizing. For those with an innate internal focus, introspection comes easily, and you’re probably in-tune with your personal motivations and actions. If you naturally focus outward, it might require more effort to look within — but the rewards are well worth it.

Self-awareness is a major benefit of focusing inward. It allows you to truly “know thyself” — making it easier to communicate your desires, intentions, and plans, and to set and achieve goals. People with strong personal insight generally feel more in control of their lives, enjoy stronger relationships, and feel greater calm and contentment.

During solitary times in your life, like our current bout of “social distancing,” learning to be comfortable focusing inward can make time spent alone or sheltering in place easier and more rewarding. Times like these are wonderful opportunities to step back, examine, and reaffirm your purpose, passions, and goals.

An Inward Focus Exercise

I’ve heard from busy working parents that current “stay-at-home” restrictions don’t allow ANY time for internal self-focus. Here’s a quick exercise ideal for these times to help increase your inward focus.

Take two minutes before you start your day for this self-check practice. Pause to notice your response to these three statements:

  • I am grateful for …
  • I will let go of …
  • I will focus on …

Do this exercise every day for a week and observe the impact on your awareness, focus, and energy. Continue the daily practice if you find it beneficial.

Too Much of a Good Thing

The ultimate goals of focusing inward are a clearer sense of purpose, increased self-appreciation, and greater personal peace. However, too much internal focus can become “navel gazing” — being overly focused on your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings, to the detriment of yourself and others. That’s why it’s important to balance your inward and outward focus to help you move forward in a healthy and productive way.

Look for my upcoming July newsletter, when we’ll discuss focusing outward! To be continued …

Tips to Turn Your Focus Inward

  • ​Connect with purpose. Use your time of looking inward to clarify or cultivate your purpose and visions. Identifying your values, strengths, and desires is an excellent tool to take your relationships, career, and life to the next level!
  • Reset. Inward focus is often associated with the negative: self-limiting beliefs, thoughts of inadequacy, and self-doubt. Use your inward focus to reset to a positive mindset that will repair and renew your spirit.
  • Disconnect. Few things can distract and drag your attention outward more quickly or insidiously than electronic devices. Practice disconnecting on a regular basis and use the time to focus and reflect within.
  • Tune in to the outer world. Ironically, briefly turning your focus to the outer world can be an excellent tool to boost your inward focus. Take a trail hike, notice the flowers in your neighbor’s garden, or gaze at the night sky to get your creative juices flowing, soothe your spirit, and energize your body.
  • Practice yoga, visualization, and meditation. Healthy mental and physical practices aim to bring you in touch with what’s going on inside you. These mindfulness practices soothe in this unsettling time, allowing you to acknowledge and appreciate what is within your control and let go of what is not.

As your coach I am dedicated to helping you reach your fullest potential and live the life you love. I offer you a proven process and life-changing experience to be intentional about your personal and professional growth — including focusing inward to center yourself and find calm, determination, and purpose.​

© 2020, Leap Forward Coaching

Filed Under: Archive Newsletter, Focus on the Future, Focus-Building Tips, Living Courageously, Mindfulness, Planning For Success, Resilience, Self Care, Zen Habits

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Focus Outward | Leap Forward Coaching| Life, Executive and Career Coaching says:
    July 14, 2020 at 9:01 am

    […] ← Focus Inward […]

    Reply
  2. Finding Balance in an Unbalanced Time - Leap Forward Coaching says:
    September 22, 2020 at 9:09 am

    […] In times of turbulence, increased demands, and high emotions, be sure to tip the scales of your focus and energy in favor of the things of value to you. Pause or let go of everything […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Newsletter Signup | Leap Forward Coaching, LLC

Newsletter Archive
Complimentary Coaching Meeting

Archives

  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • October 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • January 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • March 2011
  • January 2011
  • October 2010
  • June 2010
  • April 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • October 2009

Categories

  • Archive Newsletter
  • Balance
  • Celebrate Gratitude
  • Confidence
  • Cultivate Creativity
  • Decision Making
  • Declutter
  • Discover Your Strengths
  • Dreams For Success
  • Focus on the Future
  • Focus-Building Tips
  • Forgiveness
  • Going Green
  • Happiness
  • Joy
  • Kindness
  • Life Purpose
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Living Courageously
  • Mindfulness
  • Multitasking
  • Patience
  • Planning For Success
  • Prescription for Health
  • Relationships
  • Resilience
  • Self Care
  • Thanksgiving
  • Thrive
  • Transition
  • Using Technology
  • Worry
  • Worry & Anxiety
  • Zen Habits

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Client Login
  • Sitemap
  • Executive Coaching
  • Life Coaching
  • Career Coaching
  • Our Process

Copyright © 2011-Present Leap Forward Coaching, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Handcrafted with by Studiodog