It is not about lights, nor even cameras, in fact it something required prior to action. It is FOCUS or as the title fortells “Follow On Course Until Successful”.

So the three operative words in this acronym are “follow”, “course” and “successful”. So let’s examine them each further to see what we can discover as we strive to create the life we love to live.

This acronym was given to me it was not (unlike most of the others) of my own design. At first I thought to myself that it is not about following but then I decided to let go of any attachment to a limiting definition and see what would arise after allowing the acronym to sit with me a while and here is what I learned. To follow something does not mean we give up choices. You see the part I was struggling with is that choice is paramount. It is choice that guarantees us success because at any given time we can choose new ones. So I needed ot understand how “choice” and “follow” collaborate and finally it dawned on me. I make a choice of what I follow, when I follow, how I follow and to where I follow. So my interpretation is that focus requires me to follow my hearts desire. Following, means following my own truth. I follow my own understanding of myself.

The next concept was “on course”. Again I found I had some resistance to this because I do not believe in a path or destiny in life and so in fact is not “course” just another word for same? I think not, I decided. Again I found myself drawn back to the concept of “choice”. I alone choose the course on which I place myself. I choose the destination to where my course shall lead. I choose the actual direction and speed. I thought of a ship on a vast ocean. There are many choices to be made, obstacles can arise (like icebergs in the North Atlantic), courses need alteration even though the destination remains the same and so I thought “on course” is a wonderful addition to the concept of focus in my life. I must make choices, alterations and not lose sight of my eventual destination.

And finally, is the concept of “until successful”. Again I found myself somewhat hesitant to fully embrace this term as it implied two things I thought I disagreed with at a fundamental level. First being time required (as implied in the word “until”) and second being “successful” is a judgement immediately creating its opposite which is failure. I do not believe we fail, I believe we stray “off course” (to keep with my present analogy). Again, patience and persistence lead me to a new understanding. Choice, again, is the underlying notion. I choose what success looks like and I choose using “until” when I can consider it achieved.

So, in summary, I learned a few things from my journey of discovery on the acronym “focus”. First and foremost for me is the concept that nothing ever sets aside my choices. No matter how the words may at first appear to not resonate with me if I stick with them, drop my judgments and notions that they do not resonate then in fact a meaning that does resonate will emerge. In essence the acronym itself became the exercise I undertook. I followed my hearts desire (knowledge and wisdom) on a course of discovery until I was successful in finding an answer that resonated with me. This is how I create the life I love to live.