Focus, Performance and Results – ElPropósito4 min de lectura

A focus strategy when distractions are constant (and something personal)

Photo by Johnson Wang on Unsplash

Last week I wrote about channeling our energy to stay on the right course and develop our full potential and performance. Along the way, I sometimes feel a constant pebble in my shoe that turns into anxiety, worry and even fear of the future. All of it ends up clouding my mind, undermining my performance and forcing me to spend huge amounts of energy. This is a very personal post.

It’s hard to write about anxiety, fear and worry. Everyone knows these emotions and very few manage them. In my case, once I recognized that constant fear, I knew something was working in an unfamiliar way and giving me very unpleasant feelings. Since becoming aware of it, I’ve been learning to manage my fears, and I’m still at it, looking for answers that let me live my Life Purpose to the fullest.

When we’re trying to reach a goal, build a habit or carry out a plan, curiosity and the need to live in peace are two key variables in moving forward. Any fear (and fears are usually unfounded) is noise that hits both variables directly and negatively, reducing our confidence that we can achieve the vision that inspired the plan or goals.

The obvious question, then, is how do we manage our fears? How do we live a life where confidence, whenever we call on it, brings a sense of calm? The answer is the philosopher’s stone, the holy grail that many philosophers (Aristotle, for one) devoted their whole lives to finding. One thing I’d like to share is that two years ago we lost our second son, a tragic experience that has left a permanent mark on my memory.

I share it as part of the metaphor of my life, part of the road I’ve traveled. In the adventures I take on, I sometimes forget who I am (I forget my Purpose), I let unfounded fears carry me away, and I doubt whether I can overcome an obstacle or a challenge. I easily forget that life has constantly put challenges in front of me. I’ve overcome some of them holding on to my family, my friends, God and the Virgin Mary. Others I’ve barely made it through, and in some the ship has even been damaged, yet it has never sunk.

Whatever challenge we’re facing today, we’re closing a year full of events that were unusual for our time and yet very typical of humanity across its history. We need to remember where we come from, who we are and the dreams we have on the table. When doubt creeps in, it’s enough to remember the hardest experiences we’ve been through, to go deep inside ourselves and recognize that life, far from a fairy tale or an illusion, is a constant journey we have always come through.

A hug,

Rodrigo Baccaro

P.S. This week’s VELA:

• What I was Watching: Wim Hof. A great interview between two greats. I’m amazed by the immediate effect its practical exercises have had on me. I had come across Wim Hof in the past, and today, needing more than ever to find a way to be calm and at peace, I follow his exercises.
• What I was Listening to: Space lawyers. A fascinating podcast from TED en Español. How do you prohibit anyone from taking ownership of the moon?
• What I was Reading: 12 Rules for Life. A great book to close out 2020 with. I’m grateful to have found Dr. Jordan Peterson and to benefit from how simply he explains the deepest and, at the same time, most basic questions about human beings. His message inspires me and pushes me to keep digging into his life and work. I recommend it; it’s worth reading.
• What I was Learning: The Wim Hof Method. His breathing techniques and how extreme the method is impress me and push me to keep improving my breathing and other practical exercises for connecting with the deepest parts of our body.

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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