What You Need to Know About Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

– What You Need to Know About Keep Your Eyes on the Prize –

The expression ‘keep your eyes on the prize ‘’ is an idiomatic expression and an idiomatic expression is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers. This meaning is different from the literal meaning of the idiom’s individual elements. In other words, idioms don’t mean exactly what the words say. They have, however, hidden meaning.

What therefore is the meaning of the phrase, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE?  The phrase talk about the choice of preference, it means focusing on the important thing and not letting focus on it. The most important things often get neglected.

Modern life is full of distracting clamor, from text messages and emails to window displays in the mall. Other people tug at you with their priorities – which may not be your own. And it can feel scary to admit what really matters to you, tell others, and go after it for real: the fearful voices whisper in the back of the mind: What if you fail? but you shouldn’t listen to it

How Can You Stay Focus on the Most Important things?

These are a simple list of things you must do to remain laser-focused.

Know Your Purpose in Life.

Write it down in one word, phrase, or sentence. Really. The first time someone suggested I do this, I thought they were little nuts. But then I opened up to a kind of knowledge of what matters most to me and wrote it down.

It’s OK if it changes, or if you don’t get the words just right at first. You can revise it later. Put it in positive terms and in the present tense; for example, “I am loving” is better than “I will stop getting so angry with people.” Say it out loud and see how it feels. Find words you connect with.

Keep your purpose close to your heart; it may feel sacred. If you speak of it, do so with self-respect, not self-doubt. And then every day, as soon as you remember, recommit to your life’s purpose: rename it to yourself and give yourself over to it again.

Clarify Your Priorities:

Identify the key aims of your life these days in a word or phrase, such as Health. Friendship. Finances. Learning new things. Career. Marriage. Spirituality. Having fun. Parenting. Creative expression. Exploring life. Service.

Maybe break up one aim into two or three; for example, “finances” could become “breaking even,” “saving for retirement,” and “becoming affluent, even wealthy.”

Then do a little exercise as an experiment: rank these aims in order of importance, with no ties allowed. If you could attain only one aim, which would it be? That’s your highest priority. Then take that one off the list, look at the aims that are left, and ask the question again:

If I could attain only one of these remaining aims, which one would it be? Then repeat the process until you’re finished. Remember your purpose in life. As you go along, you may want to revise the wording of the aims or divide one aim into two or three.

When you’re done, write a clean list of aims in priority order; if it feels right, keep it where you can see it each day, maybe in your eyes alone. Routinely reflect on your true priorities; feel their weight; let your top priorities draw you in their direction.

Put the Big Rocks in the Bucket First

Look at the priorities you just created, and then ask yourself: Am I giving my time, attention, and energy in proportion to these priorities? And sit with the answer for a while. Don’t feel you need to change your life right away.

There are usually some conflicts between your priorities and your actions. Live with that tension; don’t push it away. Keep letting your true priorities speak to you. What do they say?

It’s normal to be committed to big chunks of time doing things that are necessary but not high priorities per se, such as commuting or doing housework.

Consider how you could weave one or more top priorities into these relatively low priority periods. For example, listen to an inspiring talk while you’re on the bus, or pay mindful attention to the breath while doing dishes.

Also see what realistic changes you can gradually make in your time, in the people you see, is what you give your attention, in how you spend your money.

Build your priorities into your daily schedule and monthly budget. For example, start your day with a time of reflection, meditation, uplifting reading, yoga, art, or exercise. Or when you pay the bills, write the first check to your own savings account, even if it’s only for a single dollar.

CSN Team.