An Encouraging Anchor for Your Week

Shift Your Focus, Shift Your Mindset

After my husband and I returned from vacation, I went from Zen to Zombie in about three days.

The “catch-up” was fierce, friends. FIERCE. 🤯

Backed-up emails, demands from my corporate job, home life, trying to get back into a workout routine… and somewhere in there attempting to feel like a normal human again. I honestly felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation, and we had barely unpacked. (I stand by this concept of a vacation from a vacation, by the way.)

Right after we got back, I had my first session with my life coach, Meg. (Yes, this just in, I decided I needed a life coach, not a therapist.)

I didn’t know what to expect, but within that first session she dropped this quote: “Those who chase many, grab very few.” Oh. Dear.

Yes, I had heard of the quote, and it spoke to me in the past many times, but was I actually adhering to its philosophy and its proverbial intent? Yeah, no. Probably why I decided to get a life coach…

Meg and I planned to meet biweekly, so imagine my surprise when our next session rolled around and I hadn’t made much progress on what I committed to. Actually, I hadn’t made any. Two weeks flew by, y'all. Woah.

Now, yes, I was practicing ending my days by focusing on my #WINNING instead of what I didn’t accomplish (growth, okay 🥳), but I still hadn’t done the deeper work we talked about, like breaking my goals into seasons instead of trying to carry everything all at once.

And that’s when it hit me: For two weeks, I hadn’t been intentionally present. I was chasing my tail like a puppy, convinced I was “catching up,” when really… I was just moving on autopilot.

And here’s the hard truth: Autopilot might keep you moving, but it doesn’t make you effective.

I had become so focused on me…my catch-up, my rhythm, my reset — that I lost sight of the life God actually called me to live… one that’s impactful, intentional, and rooted in Him.

If I’m being real? The only Fruit of the Spirit I may have shown consistently was kindness… and even that was probably because I’ve trained my tongue 😬 (Meanwhile, my thoughts? Lord, help me.)

And let’s go a step further with my go-go mindset. It also meant my time with Jesus was slipping.

So yes… my roots were being neglected. And my spiritual leaves? Dry, friends, dry.

Of course I felt heavy. Of course I wasn’t producing fruit. I was chasing many… and grabbing very few. #DUH

Philippians 2:3 reminds us:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Now listen…words like selfish, vain, and conceited feel strong, right? They take us back to those elementary school labels we’d never want attached to us.

But here’s the truth: Selfishness isn’t always loud.

Sometimes it looks like being so consumed with your own to-do list, your own stress, your own need to “get it all together”… that you forget to lift your eyes.

We were born with that tendency. And if we’re not intentional about shifting our focus, checking our WHY and our heart posture, we’ll miss the very life God is calling us to live.

That abundant and impactful life. The life that’s not just about getting things done… but about being who He created us to be while we’re doing them. (John 10:10)

Because here’s the truth I don’t want you to miss: You were designed with purpose. You were created to make an impact. And the impact that only you were created for? It can only be done by you.

And here’s the hope, friend: A simple focus shift changes everything. It's not about our limited perspectives; it's about seeking God's perspective each day.

It isn't about needing more time or a better system. What we need sometimes is a focus shift.

Because when our focus is on everything we need to do, haven't done, or need to fix, we shrink when all of those things feel left behind.

But when our focus shifts back to Him, to who He is, to who He says we are, and to how we can love and make an impact on the people right in front of us, everything changes.

It's not going to be perfect, but when we do it purposefully and intentionally, we suddenly find that we're not just getting through our days, we're making a glorious impact in them and for Him.

💪 Challenge of the Week
This week, before rushing into the next task, pause and ask:

“Lord, where do You want me to shift my focus today?”

Then choose one simple way to lift your eyes and love someone well—send the text, say the prayer, offer encouragement, give grace, or be fully present with the person right in front of you.

Because when we shift our focus back to Him, we don’t just get through our days… we make an impact in them.

🙏 Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for blessing me with a new day to make an impact in this life for You and for others. I come to You today asking for a reset in my focus.

Help me to release the pressure to do it all, fix it all, and figure it all out on my own. Quiet the noise in my mind and gently redirect my heart back to You.

Please, teach me to be present, to see those whom You've placed in front of me, and to choose purpose over pressure.

Remind me Lord, that I don’t need more time; I need more of You.

Shape my thoughts, my words, and my actions so that I reflect Your love in a real and meaningful way. Let my life not just be busy, but impactful… in the way only You designed it to be.

I trust You to lead me, guide me, and grow me this week.

In Jesus’ name Amen.

In Love and Christ,

Dorene Elizabeth