“One step at a time.
One punch at a time.
One round at a time.”
-Rocky Balboa
First things first...
Don’t punch anybody but DO listen to everything else Rocky says.
How to focus during a crisis
So if I can’t punch anybody, how do I deal with things during such a difficult time in life?
Don't Focus on the Past.
When you’re in crisis it's easy to get caught up in focusing 1000 steps behind you. Those 1000 steps aren't things you can change right now.
Don't Focus on the Future.
If you’re looking at things in the future that may never even happen, you’re bound to trip and fall flat on your face...right now.
Focus on the small and simple steps right now.
Pull yourself back to the present. Pull yourself as much to the present as it takes to feel like you can do this. If that means just focusing on eating that bowl of cereal in the morning then focus on making it through that. Or if it means climbing out of bed before noon. Or actually talking a shower today, just focus on doing that. As the crisis begins to settle you can pull your focus back and focus on bigger things, like making it through all of today. Then all of tomorrow. Then next week. Then next month.
Your focus has so much power. The past and the future can be distractions from growth when we live there too long.
Find your focus. Win the round. And feel free to play “Eye of the Tiger” in the background while you eat your cereal. You’ve earned it.
Schedule a time to meet with our therapist, Mike Porter. Mike is based in Kansas City, MO. Mike sees clients in the greater Kansas City area (including the Kansas side) as well as virtually throughout Missouri and Texas.
