Avoiding the Trees

This week my wife and I were listening to the Simon Sinek podcast with guest Matthew Barzun from back in May. In one part of the interview, they were talking about professional skiers who fly down mountains in and out of tons of trees. When the pros were asked about how they avoid collisions, they said they focus on all the snow between the trees. I had this running through my head playing disc golf this week with my son and daughter-in-law. Invariably, if there is a tree on the hole, I will find it. There might only be one in the whole field, but my disc will be drawn toward it like a heat-seeking missile. The same goes for any time I play regular golf near a water hole. I can guarantee that I will make a sacrificial donation to the water deities without fail.

Neuroscience tells us that when we focus on something, our actions are impacted by its location. We are drawn to the object of our attention. This applies to our thoughts and beliefs as well. If we focus on the negative and destructive things around us, we will be pulled into that circle of influence. If like the skiers and the snow, we focus on the positive and inspiring dynamics at work in our world, we can navigate each day with intention, meaning, and joy.

In regard to disc golf, I am going to work on seeing the open space between the trees. With some hard work, I might become a decent player. More importantly, in life, I want to stay focused on all the good around me with the hope that it will help me be a better human being.