When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
– Helen Keller
Target fixation is what us motorcyclists call it.
Several years ago, while taking a motorcycle class to hone my riding skills, we assessed the local motorcycle wrecks that had occurred in the last six months.
What we found was astonishing. Over 90% of the wrecks were nothing more than target fixation.
Usually a motorcyclist, coming into a corner too hot, couldn’t stop staring at the utility pole they didn’t want to hit.
And, because they didn’t want to hit it, they stared at it hoping they wouldn’t hit it, but then they did.
I’ve done it myself.
Not hit a utility pole but came into a corner too hot, all the while my mind was screaming, “I’m not going to make it! I’m not going to make it!”
My eyes don’t want to look where I want to go. My eyes want to keep staring at where I don’t want to go.
As if staring at the object I’m afraid of hitting will move or change or go away or do something other than what I think it’s doing to me or not doing to me.
Complete bullpucky!
When I stare at the problem, my problem gets bigger and eventually I hit it.
If I keep my focus on where I want to go and use only my peripheral to see the problem, I steer myself toward what I’m focused on – my solution, my corner, my newly opened door of happiness.
Life is similar to riding a motorcycle. When I look where I want to go, I have a better chance of getting there.
Image Source: Pixabay
Weathered Well 