Wednesday Wisdom
- Tavia Robinson
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Wednesday Wisdom | Intentional Focus in Uncertain Times
“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.”
— Jack Canfield
Pause for a moment and sit with those words...
In a season filled with heightened emotions, political noise, year-end pressures, and holiday expectations, focus is no longer a passive state—it’s a leadership competency.
Let’s create a brief reset:
Take a deep breath in…
Exhale slowly…
Again—inhale deeply…
Release…
One more time—inhale…
Exhale…
Allow your nervous system to settle. Be present here.
From a coaching lens, the question becomes:
What are you choosing to focus on right now—and what is that focus creating?
We’ve all heard the mantras: be positive, look on the bright side, mind over matter. Yet neuroscience and lived experience tell us it’s not that simple. Our brains are wired for threat detection. Headlines, social feeds, and even boardroom conversations often reinforce scarcity, division, and urgency.
As Gay Hendricks reminds us,
“It takes a heroic commitment on your part to focus on what’s right.”
From a coaching perspective, focus is intentional awareness aligned with values. Hendricks teaches us that:
What you focus on tends to grow.
If you want more fulfillment in your relationships, focus on what’s working.
If you want more creativity, focus on the creative capacities already present.
This aligns with research highlighted by the Mayo Clinic, which underscores that positive thinking isn’t about ignoring challenges—it’s about responding to them with greater clarity, resilience, and agency. Leaders who practice intentional focus are better equipped to manage stress, regulate emotions, and make values-aligned decisions under pressure.
Today’s Leadership Challenge: Intentional Focus
From a coaching standpoint, consider this your call to conscious choice:
Where are you directing your attention—by default or by design?
What past successes can you anchor into as evidence of your capability?
What is one next action that aligns with your broader vision, even amid uncertainty?
How might your focus influence the emotional climate of your team or organization?
Ben Zobrist said it well:
“At the end of the day, you can’t control the results; you can only control your effort level and your focus.”
Focus is one of the few things still fully within your control.
Choose it wisely. Model it visibly. Invite others into it intentionally.
Because when leaders shift their focus, cultures begin to shift too.
In times of noise and pressure, intentional focus becomes an act of leadership—and a gift to everyone you serve.
You got this!
Coach Tavia, PCC, MSEd, MAT
References & Further Reading
Hendricks, G. (1998). A Year of Living Consciously: 365 Daily Inspirations for Creating a Life of Passion and Purpose. Harper One.
Mayo Clinic. Positive Thinking: Stop Negative Self-Talk to Reduce Stress.
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Tavia Robinson
EMPOWER COACHING & CONSULTING, LLC
732.743.5012
You got this!