Put Your Blinders On

Life throws little distractions at us all day long- from the kids running around the house like animals to the coworker who isn’t giving their all on an important project. These distractions get between us and our goals whether we’re trying to focus on our careers, family or ourselves.

One little frustration is easy enough to brush off, but how often are we faced with one? And how often is it little?

As you’re working towards your goals, following your dreams and bettering yourself, not only do you have to manage the frustrations of daily life, you also have to combat the naysayers- the people who are competing with you or sitting in the stands betting against you. You may have once seen them as friends and confidants, but as you’ve gained ground in the race of life they’ve gone from supporters to doubters.

And do they keep quiet? No.

They’re not ones to keep their opinions to themselves. You can see them on the sidelines shaking their heads in judgment.

So what is a distracted goal-conqueror to do? Put your blinders on!

Blinders are a horse’s shield against all things daunting, distracting and downright scary. They are used to keep him focused on what is in front of him.

What a great strategy… focusing only on what is in front of you and leaving the commotion of others out of the equation.

George Lucas had the right idea when he said…

“You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.”

The reality is that not everyone around you is going to support you. Not only will they voice their doubts they’ll also toss little frustrations your way. For instance, the husband who hates his job and refuses to help his wife with the kids so that she can study for her college finals. He lets the frustration of noisy kids keep her from focusing because he feels insecure about her goals. Or the coworker who doesn’t pitch in on a project because your job is on the line, not theirs.

You’ll be faced with critiques and distractions regularly, but your success will depend on how well you keep the distractions at bay. Because the truth is, the doubters and naysayers are not your issue- though they want to be.

If you allow distractions to get in the way of your focus then you’re going to miss important opportunities. Look beyond what you’re surrounded by. Run towards your goals and leave the crowd in the dust.

Should some things be addressed? Of course! The kids can’t go unattended and some issues have to be resolved before they get worse. However, your surroundings can’t dictate your success.

Use your blinders to keep unnecessary things from taking up your headspace. Keep your focus on what’s ahead and your eyes on the finish line!